“A secure border is indeed a key to sovereignty itself. Same on sanctuary cities, same on adequately funding law enforcement.” (August 3 debate)

“Only Congress has the authority to declare war. This decision needs to be made by Congress.” (August 3 debate)

Declined to commit to backing John Thune as Senate Republican leader, calling him a “scapegoat” for the chamber's narrow Republican margin. (August 4 debate)

Argued local communities should have input on data-center development, with federal “guardrails.” (August 4 debate)

The federal debt is the central rationale for his candidacy. In his announcement video: “I’m worried for our children because for the first time, America’s borrowing from the future faster than we’re building it. If left unaddressed, that debt will crush our economy. It will wipe out our savings, and it could even destroy our republic.”

“I voted with the president 90% of the time I was in office.” Sanford defends occasional disagreement with President Trump while emphasizing broad agreement. (ABC News 4 interview, August 4)

Points to his record: “When I was governor, we saw the first cut to the grocery tax, we saw the first cut to property tax, we saw the largest recurring tax cut in South Carolina history.” (August 3 debate)