Former South Carolina governor and current House candidate Mark Sanford is in trouble. His ex-wife is suing him for trespassing. The National Republican Congressional Commitee has pulled its support, and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch is poised for an upset in a conservative district.

But the NRCC may not be too worried about losing this special election, as the Washington Post explains:

If she wins, Colbert Busch would not only be punching her ticket to Congress. The Democrat would also instantly secure a place on Republicans’ list of highest priority 2014 targets.
A glance at the partisan tilt of the district shows why this would be the case. We’re talking about a very Republican district; a district where Mitt Romney won nearly six in 10 votes last year.
A Sanford loss would likely spell the end for his career in politics. So Republicans would get a fresh start next year against Colbert Busch with a candidate who doesn’t have the baggage of a former governor who admitted to an extramarital affair in 2009 and paid a $74,000 ethics fine.

The election is on May 7. Before the news broke this week about Sanford’s ex-wife, Jenny, suing him, the race was already close.