Mobile, Ala. - Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint gave a tip of the cap tonight to fellow Republican Mark Sanford on his election Tuesday to a U.S. House seat in South Carolina.

Sanford, a former South Carolina governor whose political career was derailed by a sex scandal, defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, for the state’s 1st congressional district.

DeMint, a native of Greenville, S.C., who retired from the Senate in January, said he wasn't surprised by the outcome. But DeMint said Sanford's margin of victory - he won by nine points, 54 percent to 45 percent - was impressive.

"That’s a good conservative district. The margin was a little surprising, given the polls I saw" heading into Tuesday's vote, DeMint said. "It’s a district that has changed – it goes from Charleston down to Hilton Head. A lot of conservatives from around the country have retired there, to go along with conservatives from the district. So it was a good match for Mark."

DeMint, 61, spoke on the sidelines of a fundraising dinner for the Alabama Policy Institute in Mobile, where he served as the event's keynote speaker.

DeMint said Sanford should do well in Congress.

"He makes a good presentation on television, and he’ll vote right," he said. "So I really can’t complain about that."

Sanford replaces former U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley to serve out the remainder of DeMint's Senate term.

"I really feel like my mission’s completed now," DeMint said. "Tim Scott’s a great replacement for me, and Sanford’s a great replacement (for Scott). And I'm excited about the things we're doing at the Heritage Foundation."