Former Democrat Brian Bengs launches independent bid for Mike Rounds' Senate seat in 2026
Brian Bengs, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, attorney and former criminal justice professor at Northern State University, declared his candidacy in the 2026 election April 30.
He is running for the seat held by Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, whose term ends Jan. 3, 2027. Rounds has not announced whether he will seek reelection.
Bengs, a Hot Springs resident, previously ran on a Democratic ticket in 2022 as challenger to U.S. Sen. John Thune. Bengs lost to Thune, earning 26.1% of the vote to the incumbent's 69.6%.
In an April 30 press release, Bengs stated he intends to "unite voters across the political spectrum who are unhappy with the dysfunctional status quo and instead want pragmatic, principled leadership pursuing solutions that will actually improve the lives of regular folks working hard to make ends meet."
"South Dakotans deserve a senator who isn't a gutless robot for some political party and Big Money," Bengs stated. "I'm running because the system needs to hear from someone who understands the reality of most South Dakotans, lives like they do, does his own thinking, and isn't indebted to anyone but them."
Bengs is the second candidate to launch a campaign for the seat. Democrat Julian Beadion, a Sioux Falls activist and former South Dakota state trooper, formally announced his own bid for the Senate seat April 10.
More: Democrat Julian Beaudion announces US Senate run against Republican Mike Rounds in 2026
Rounds assumed his current office Jan. 3, 2015. He was South Dakota governor from 2003 to 2011.
Rounds' war chest currently contains about $2.18 million cash on hand, according to FEC data.
Both Beaudion and Bengs have established campaign committees with the FEC, but their financial statements have yet to be reported as of April 30.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Brian Bengs launches independent bid for Mike Rounds' Senate seat 2026
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