Stephen Colbert's Sister Wins Democratic Primary in Congressional Race

Stephen Colbert couldn't script it any better if he tried.

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The Peabody-winning political satirist is looking at the ultimate meta story: His sister, businesswoman and college administrator Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, won the Democratic Party primary Tuesday and may now take on one-time governor Mark Sanford in a special election to fill the vacated congressional seat from the state's first district.

STORY: Stephen Colbert's Sister Running for Congress in South Carolina

The heavily-favored Colbert-Busch topped her opponent, Ben Frasier, while Sanford -- who resigned as the state's governor in 2009 after admitting to having an extramarital affair -- advanced to a special runoff on the Republican side. Sanford topped more than a dozen opponents in the primary, but garnered just 37 percent of the vote in the crowded election, short of the 50 percent needed to clinch the nomination. The runoff will take place April 2, with the general election slated for May 7.

They are running to fill the seat vacated by now-Senator Tim Scott, who was elevated to the upper chamber after Senator Jim DeMint left to run a conservative advocacy group.

Colbert has pledged to help his sister with her electoral efforts -- already, he's hosted events with her in his native South Carolina -- and in an interview Monday, shrugged off any potential criticism he might get for breaking his usual satirical faux-conservative character in order to assist her.

"I'm willing to, you know, break the jewel of my own creation to try to do something for her," the Comedy Central host told CNN's Jake Tapper. "I'm not worried about what it would do to me or my show to try to help her as myself -- not as my character -- to help her as myself. And you know, if people think that's not the right thing for me to do, I don't care. It's my sister, and I'm willing to help her."

Colbert also figures to have a field day with Sanford, whose resignation was a national punch line. The then-governor told his staff that he was going on a trip to hike the Appalachian Trail; he was subsequently caught returning from visiting a woman in Argentina.

Watch below one of Colbert's reports on the matter from 2009.