Stage two of Mark Sanford's political comeback is complete.

The former South Carolina governor, who ended his term tarnished by one of the most sensational political sex scandals in recent memory, has won the Republican primary to become the party's candidate for the U.S. House seat he represented in the 1990s.

Sanford bested attorney and former Charleston County Council member Curtis Bostic, The Associated Press has determined.

With 97 percent reporting, Sanford took 57 percent to Bostic's 43 percent.

Sanford will face Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of Comedy Central personality Stephen Colbert, in a May 7 general election, which isn't considered a lock, despite the First District's Republican voting tradition.

It's tough to know whether this was a good, great, or mediocre night for Sanford, who enjoys near-universal recognition after serving as governor, but who topped his main GOP rival by 13 percentage points.