Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) -- Mark Sanford is heading back to Washington after detours along the Appalachian Trail and Argentina. The former South Carolina governor finished his second term in office three years ago with his political career dead in the water thanks to a well-publicized extra-marital affair and ethics violations. But he came away Tuesday with a victory over Democratic opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch in the special election for a vacant House seat in the Palmetto State's 1st Congressional District -- the same seat he once held. Here's what we've learned, or better yet, re-learned, from Sanford's victory 1. Voters give politicians second chances
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Disgraced former Gov. Mark Sanford overcame past scandals to win House seat
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Sanford is a veteran campaigner while opponent Colbert Bush made some rookie mistakes
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Surprisingly high turnout in solid Republican district helped Sanford
We knew Democratic voters were fired up, but the big question concerned Republican voters in a district that the @placeholder has held for more 30 years.