(CNN) - Mark Sanford knows first hand the experience of picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and trying again.
Just like what Candice Glover–the newly minted "American Idol"–faced as she failed to make it far in the singing contest the first two times she auditioned.
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She also happens to be from Sanford's home state of South Carolina.
In his first week back in Congress, Sanford congratulated Glover on the House floor and pointed to her resilience.
"I think that her story ultimately is inspirational because what she does is she teaches and reminds every one of us of the importance of this simple notion of trying, trying and trying yet again," he said.
Sanford made a major comeback of his own recently, winning a special election in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District after tarnishing his reputation with a controversy which included a 2009 extramarital affair. He was governor at the time finishing out his second term in 2011.
Trying to re-enter politics, he faced a tough battle in this spring's special election but ultimately pulled out a win against his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch.
Read his full remarks about Glover below:
"I have the pleasure of rising today to congratulate Lowcountry native and St. Helena Island's own Candice Glover on winning the title of American Idol. She is the daughter of John and Carol Glover and Candice is a graduate of Beaufort High School and I think that her story ultimately is inspirational because what she does is she teaches and reminds every one of us of the importance of this simple notion of trying, trying and trying yet again – because it was in fact on her third attempt that she actually made it and it made all the difference. I was there for a hero's welcome just a couple weeks ago in Beaufort, South Carolina and I can only imagine the welcome she will now receive. She was then one of 3, she won this week. Her career is one that started at Oaks True Holiness Church back home at the age of 4 wherein she was singing literally to the lord. It was only the beginning and as South Carolina's new Congressman from the 1st Congressional District I speak for many who could not be more proud of Candice for indeed the way she reminds every one of us of the importance of trying, trying and trying yet again. Congratulations Candice."