Former South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford has ended his campaign to reclaim his former House seat. 

Sanford told the Associated Press the decision to end the month-old campaign for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District was so he could pursue founding a nonprofit to address the national debt and to spend more time with family. 

Sanford entered the primary, which was overflowing with Republican candidates, just before the deadline to file. He served as governor of South Carolina for eight years, a term that was mired in controversy over an 2009 extramarital affair. 

Despite an impeachment inquiry and pressure to resign, he left office on his own terms.