Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, will run for Congress in South Carolina, St. Andrews Patch confirmed on Friday.
Colbert-Busch's entry into the race could make for interesting programming on her younger brother's show. Unlike the character Colbert plays on TV, Colbert-Busch is a Democrat, and she'll be seeking to turn a long-red First Congressional District -- previously represented by now-GOP Sen. Tim Scott -- blue. But her entrance into the race will add to the intrigue of an already compelling contest that will feature disgraced ex-South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford duking it out with at least five other Republican candidates for the nomination.
Sanford notoriously disappeared from the state in 2009 in a scandal that eventually forced him to admit that he was having an extramarital affair with an Argentinian woman. He finished his term, but his wife, Jenny Sanford, eventually divorced him, and earlier this month declined to run for the seat. Her ex-husband reportedly announced plans to wed his former mistress last year.
Patch provides some background on Colbert-Busch:
Colbert-Busch is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Clemson University’s Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility. Previously, she was the Director of Business Development for Clemson University’s Restoration Institute. The Mount Pleasant resident has three children and two grandchildren and deep ties to the Lowcountry. This will be her first foray into public life.
A state official reminds BuzzFeed that while Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central fame pronounces his name with a silent "t," his sister opts for the phonetic pronunciation.
Patch reports that Colbert-Busch will file her candidacy papers on Tuesday.
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