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Elizabeth Colbert-Busch
Elizabeth Colbert-Busch was the 2013 Democratic nominee seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina.[1][2]
Colbert-Busch is the older sister of The Colbert Report host, Stephen Colbert.[3]
She was defeated by former Gov. Mark Sanford (R) in the election for the open seat. The special election was held to fill the seat left empty following the appointment of Tim Scott to the U.S. Senate.[4][5] Colbert-Busch easily defeated challenger Ben Frasier in the Democratic special primary election on March 19, 2013.[6] She was defeated in the general election.[7]
The general election race was expected to be tough for any Democrat. The Charleston-area seat has been a Republican stronghold for decades, and continues to lean Republican.[8][9] The last Democratic candidate elected was Mendel Jackson Davis in 1978.[10]
Early indicators suggested the race between Colbert-Busch and Sanford would be competitive.[11][12] Many believed that Sanford's forces would have had a hard time overwhelming Colbert-Busch in the competition for dollars, as her brother, Stephen Colbert, went all out to raise cash for his older sister.[13]
In early April 2013 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and her PAC Off the Sidelines, endorsed Colbert-Busch for the May 7 general special election.[14]
The race was included in a Washington Post list of the Top 5 races of 2013.[15]
Biography
Cobert-Busch comes from a large family and is the sister of The Colbert Report host, Stephen Colbert. She serves as the director of business development at Clemson University Restoration Institute.[16][17] Prior to this, she was director of sales and marketing for the Orient Overseas Container Line.[1][3][18]
Education
- Bachelor's degree, College of Charleson[3]
Issues
Political positions
Colbert-Busch's primary interest for South Carolina is business development and jobs creation, as reflected in her current work at Clemson University.[19] In response to a question tweeted to her in early April 2013, she responded as being both pro-choice and in favor of marriage equality.[20]
Elections
2013
Colbert-Busch ran for the U.S. House representing the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina. The election was held to replace Tim Scott, who was appointed to fill Jim DeMint's vacant seat in the U.S. Senate.[21] Colbert-Busch ran in the Democratic primary and defeated Ben Frasier on March 19, 2013.[6][2] Martin Skelly originally filed to run but withdrew in early February.[22][23] Colbert-Busch was defeated by Republican nominee and former congressman Mark Sanford in the general election on May 7, 2013.[24]
Former Governor Mark Sanford was seen as the front runner due to name recognition and the fact that he had $120,000 in an old campaign account. This coupled with his ability to fundraise quickly gave him a leg up on the field. The seat was also his former seat in the U.S. House of Representatives that he held for three terms, prior to being elected governor.[25]
The district leans Republican.[26] The last Democratic candidate elected was Mendel Jackson Davis in 1978.[27]
| U.S. House, South Carolina District 1 Special Democratic Primary, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Elizabeth Colbert-Busch |
95.9% | 15,802 | ||
| Ben Frasier | 4.1% | 682 | ||
| Total Votes | 16,484 | |||
| Source: Official results via South Carolina State Election Commission[6] | ||||
| U.S. House, South Carolina District 1 General Special Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Mark Sanford |
54% | 77,600 | |
| Democratic | Elizabeth Colbert-Busch | 45.2% | 64,961 | |
| Green | Eugene Platt | 0.5% | 690 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.3% | 384 | |
| Total Votes | 143,635 | |||
| Source: South Carolina Election Board, "Official Special Election Results" | ||||
Endorsements
- After Martin Skelly withdrew from the race, he threw his support behind Colbert-Busch, saying "she inspires both the party faithful and the political center that we need to generate consensus and end gridlock in Congress."[28]
- The AFL-CIO endorsed her on February 14, 2013, and said "Elizabeth’s business experience with the maritime industry and Clemson University helps her understand that when labor and management work together everyone wins." Charleston Mayor Joe Riley endorsed her the same day, describing her as a “tireless worker, a self-made woman in a field where there were few women."[29]
- U.S. Representative James Clyburn endorsed her on February 19, 2013. In the endorsement he said there was "something unique about Elizabeth’s experiences…She has life experiences to take us to success in the general election."[30]
- Following the GOP runoff primary on April 2, 2013, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand threw her support behind Colbert-Busch, which included the support of her PAC Off the Sidelines.[14] In a statement announcing the endorsement Gillibrand said, "Elizabeth has been off the sidelines and involved in her community for years, having founded the Executive Board of Directors of Charleston Women in International Trade as well as serving as Chair of the Maritime Association Port of Charleston, among other positions. I'm thrilled that this year, Elizabeth has decided to add Congressional candidate to her list of achievements, and with your help, we'll be sending her to Washington, D.C. very soon."[14]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Elizabeth + Colbert-Busch + South Carolina + House"
External links
- Official campaign website
- Founding Member profile at Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT)
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media coverage:
- Collected news and commentary at ABC News
- Collected news and commentary at CBS Charlotte
- Collected news and commentary at Colbert News Hub
- Collected news and commentary at Examiner.com
- Tough times have taught comedian's sister to love life, Bryce Donovan, The Post and Courier, February 6, 2010
- Don’t count out Stephen Colbert’s sister, Aaron Blake, The Washington Post, February 15, 2013
- Colbert may give sister’s campaign a boost, Aaron Blake, The State, February 18, 2013
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Politico, "No joke: Stephen Colbert’s sister plans House bid," January 18, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 South Carolina Radio Network, "List of 19 candidates running for District 1 seat," January 28, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 West Ashley Patch, "A Closer Look at Elizabeth Colbert-Busch," January 18, 2013
- ↑ The Republic, "Sanford's hopes of a political comeback rest with voters this week" accessed March 17, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Gov. Nikki Haley to fill DeMint’s seat by appointment," December 6, 2012
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 SC Votes, "March 19 Special Primary Election" accessed March 19, 2013 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "primary" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Huffington Post, "South Carolina Election Results 2013" accessed May 7, 2013
- ↑ MSNBC "Elizabeth Colbert Busch wedged in crowded special election race" accessed March 17, 2013
- ↑ Salon.com, "Ted Turner’s son vying in SC congressional primary," January 23, 2013
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Davis, Medel Jackson, (1942-2007)," accessed January 28, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "Mark Sanford advances to runoff" accessed April 19, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Mark Sanford wins Republican runoff in South Carolina" accessed April 2, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "GOP frets Mark Sanford could blow it" accessed April 4, 2013
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Daily Kos, "Let's Send Elizabeth Colbert Busch to Congress" accessed April 4, 2013
- ↑ Washingotn Post, "The Fix's Top 5 Races of 2013" accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Clemson University Restoration Institute
- ↑ [http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/article.php?article_id=4128 "Offshore wind industry has huge potential for Southeast, Clemson official tells conference," Clemson University, March 8, 2012
- ↑ MSNBC "Elizabeth Colbert Busch Wedged in Crowded Special Election Race" accessed March 17, 2013
- ↑ "Southeast wind-energy conference to feature Clemson’s Restoration Institute," Clemson University, March 1, 2012
- ↑ Twitter, "Elizabeth Colbert-Busch" accessed April 4, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Scott's departure for Senate will trigger third special House election in 2013," December 17, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call, "South Carolina Skelly exits Special Election" accessed March 11, 2013
- ↑ South Carolina Republican Party Website, "1st Congressional Special Election details set," accessed January 3, 2013
- ↑ Huffington Post, "South Carolina Election Results 2013" accessed May 7, 2013
- ↑ Roll Call, "Sanford Likely Front-Runner in S.C. Special Election," January 3, 2013
- ↑ Salon.com, "Ted Turner’s son vying in SC congressional primary," January 23, 2013
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Davis, Medel Jackson, (1942-2007)," accessed January 28, 2013
- ↑ Roll Call, "South Carolina: Skelly Exits Special Election; Colbert’s Sister Now Top Democratic Contender," February 11, 2013
- ↑ North Charleston Patch, "Colbert Busch Receives Two Key Endorsements in SC1 Race," February 13, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Congressman James Clyburn Endorses Elizabeth Colbert Busch, The Charleston Chronicle, February 19, 2013
