South Dakota Senate
Julian Beaudion (D) vs. Brian Bengs (I) vs. Mike Rounds (R). General election Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
What does a U.S. senator do?
Writes and votes on federal laws, approves or rejects the President's nominees for judges and cabinet posts, and approves treaties. 6-year term. Each state has two.
- Votes on the federal budget and taxes
- Confirms Supreme Court justices
- Serves on committees that shape bills
Your options
Listed alphabetically by last name. Each box has the same sections in the same order. Donation and campaign links appear only after we confirm they belong to the candidate's own committee.
Julian Beaudion
Who they are
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
ActBlue page belongs to "Julian Beaudion", checked against FEC records.
Brian Bengs
Who they are
In their words: “Brian Bengs is running for the U.S. Senate for South Dakotan as an Independent candidate. Learn more about Brian's views and policy ideas.” campaign site
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
Mike Rounds
Who they are
In their words: “Proud to serve South Dakota, Mike Rounds is working with President Trump to focus on strong leadership, economic growth, and preserving our values.” campaign site
What they say they'll do
- National Security
- National Security
- Education
- Education
- 2nd Amendment
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
WinRed page belongs to "Mike Rounds for Senate", checked against FEC records.
Where they stand, issue by issue
Quotes are taken from each campaign's own website (first sentences of the section, unedited). Topics are assigned by keyword; we do not summarize or score positions. "No public position found" means we did not find the topic on the campaign site, not that the candidate has no view.
Mike is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations. He supports commonsense reforms to keep these programs solvent without cutting benefits, making sure they remain strong for years to come.source
Mike is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. He works in the U.S. Senate to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners.source
Mike is pro-life and always defends the rights of the unborn. When Mike was working as South Dakota's 31st Governor, he signed a trigger law which went into effect after Roe v. Wade was struck down in 2022. This law prohibits abortion in South Dakota except when the mother’s life is at risk.source
Mike believes in local control of education, and while standards are important, a “one size fits all” directive from the federal government does not serve our children well.source
Mike is a strong advocate for American energy independence and supports an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy production. He believes the United States should maximize the use of its natural resources to lower energy costs, create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources.source
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mike is working to make sure our military remains the best in the world. He has consistently been named one of the most effective Republicans in the United States Senate for his work on national security issues.source
No candidate in this race addresses on their site: Cost of living & jobs, Taxes & government spending, Social Security & Medicare, Immigration & the border, Crime & public safety, Foreign policy & defense, Elections & government ethics, Farming & rural issues, Housing, Roads, transit & infrastructure.
About this race
Mike Rounds (Republican) is the incumbent. The race is rated solidly Republican. 6-year term. Each state has two.
Rating from the Cook Political Report race ratings, Oct 23, 2026. Candidates from the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House: 2026 nominees from official state sources.
