U.S. Senate, South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota U.S. Senate race?
Mike Rounds has the strongest record in the South Dakota U.S. Senate race. Mike Rounds scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Brian Bengs at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Rounds's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Brian Bengs's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Independent
Brian Bengs
On the ballot as Brian L Bengs
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Mike Rounds
67 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Brian Bengs
- On the record2026-08
Democratic nominee Julian Beaudion withdrew in August 2026; Bengs told KELOLAND he had privately asked Beaudion to withdraw.
- On the record2026-09-14
Took part in the SDPB and South Dakota News Watch Senate debate after Sen. Rounds declined to attend.
Source: SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026
- On the record2026-09-24
A C-SPAN video showed him in a heated verbal altercation with a protester outside the U.S. Capitol; his campaign said he was standing up to a paid agitator.
Sources: Dakota News Now, Sept. 24, 2026, KOTA Radio, Sept. 28, 2026
- On the record2025-04-30
Launched a 2026 independent Senate campaign after running in 2022 as the Democratic nominee against Sen. John Thune.
- Creditcareer
Served in the U.S. Navy and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel after working as a military attorney.
Sources: Argus Leader via Yahoo News, April 30, 2025, Ballotpedia, Brian Bengs
Mike Rounds
- Mark against2015-06
The FEC closed administrative fine case AF 3003 against Rounds for Senate in June 2015 with a $4,350 penalty for 2014 contributions lacking 48-hour notices.
- On the record2026-05
NOTUS reported in May 2026 that he disclosed a $1 million to $5 million nonpublic stock sale more than five months late; his office said he is working with Senate Ethics.
Source: NOTUS, May 7, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Declined the SDPB and South Dakota News Watch Senate debate and a KELOLAND News studio debate in September 2026.
Sources: SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026, KELOLAND News via AOL, Sept. 2026
- Credit2023 to 2024
The Center for Effective Lawmaking rated him Exceeds Expectations on its LES 2.0 measure for the 118th Congress.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress
- Credit2023
The Lugar Center Bipartisan Index ranked him 20th of 98 senators scored for 2023, with a score of 0.70126.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 Senate scores
- Credit2022-01
In January 2022 told ABC News the certified 2020 results were correct and stood by it after Trump called him a jerk and pledged never to endorse him again.
Sources: SDPB, Jan. 10, 2022, Fox News, July 22, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Brian Bengs. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from April 28, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00903641
Mike Rounds. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. NOTUS reported in May 2026 that he disclosed a 2025 private stock sale more than five months late; see the Record. No ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, NOTUS, May 7, 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. In January 2022 said publicly that the 2020 election was fair and stood by it after former President Trump vowed never to endorse him again. In August 2026 called a Trump-backed beef import plan a knee-jerk reaction.
Sources: SDPB, Jan. 10, 2022, Fox News, July 22, 2025, SDPB, Aug. 31, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Brian Bengs. Took part in the Sept. 14, 2026 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch Senate debate though his opponent declined, and sat for a KELOLAND News candidate interview.
Sources: SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026, KELOLAND News via AOL, Sept. 2026
Mike Rounds. Declined the SDPB and South Dakota News Watch U.S. Senate debate and offered no alternative dates, and declined a KELOLAND News studio debate. No 2026 general election debate or forum with his opponent found.
Sources: SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026, KELOLAND News via AOL, Sept. 2026, HuffPost, Oct. 2, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Brian Bengs. Retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and former Navy service member, attorney and university professor. No formal conduct finding found. A Sept. 2026 verbal confrontation with a protester is in the Record.
Mike Rounds. Served as state senator, two-term governor and U.S. senator since 2015 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Rounds
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Brian Bengs. Served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brian Bengs, Argus Leader via Yahoo News, April 30, 2025
Mike Rounds. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electors. In January 2022 told ABC News the certified results were correct and stood by it after Trump vowed never to endorse him again.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1, Jan. 6, 2021, GovTrack, Senate Vote 2, Jan. 7, 2021, SDPB, Jan. 10, 2022
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Brian Bengs. Military attorney who retired as an Air Force lieutenant colonel, served as chief of general law and assistant general counsel with the Air Force, and taught at Northern State University. Has not held elected office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brian Bengs
Mike Rounds. U.S. senator since January 2015, governor from 2003 to 2011 and state senator from 1991 to 2000, including majority leader.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Brian Bengs. Publishes positions on his campaign site and in the Ballotpedia survey, including term limits, a Medicare buy-in and campaign finance changes, mostly in general terms.
Sources: Bengs for South Dakota, policy positions, SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026
Mike Rounds. Chairs the Armed Services Cybersecurity subcommittee and the Banking Securities, Insurance, and Investment subcommittee. His campaign issue page states priorities in general terms.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Brian Bengs. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages on his campaign site, and took part in the SDPB Senate debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brian Bengs, Bengs for South Dakota, policy positions, SDPB News, Sept. 15, 2026
Mike Rounds. Publishes issue positions on his campaign site and gave a one-on-one interview to KELOLAND News. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Rounds for Senate, issues, KELOLAND News via AOL, Sept. 2026, Ballotpedia, Mike Rounds
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Brian Bengs. Lives in Hot Springs per the Secretary of State list and KELOLAND News. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 18.4 percent of itemized individual receipts from South Dakota.
Sources: South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list, KELOLAND News via AOL, June 2026
Mike Rounds. Born in Huron, a Pierre native, and lists a Fort Pierre address. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 10.6 percent of itemized individual receipts from South Dakota.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Rounds, KELOLAND News via AOL, Sept. 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Brian Bengs. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no debt owed and no administrative fine.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00903641
Mike Rounds. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no debt owed. The only FEC administrative fine, $4,350 for missed 48-hour notices, dates to the 2014 campaign and is outside the 10-year window.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines, committee C00532465
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates him Exceeds Expectations (LES 2.0) for the 118th Congress. GovTrack counts 22 enacted bills as primary sponsor.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Mike Rounds
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. Missed 354 of 4,364 roll call votes, 8.1 percent, from January 2015 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, Mike Rounds
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.70126 for 2023, the latest posted Senate scores, ranked 20 of 98 senators scored (top quarter).
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 Senate scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Brian Bengs. No public record found.
Mike Rounds. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota U.S. Senate race?
Mike Rounds has the strongest record in the South Dakota U.S. Senate race. Mike Rounds scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Brian Bengs at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Rounds's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Brian Bengs's highest marks are communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Dakota U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Brian Bengs (Independent), Mike Rounds (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Brian Bengs a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Brian Bengs scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mike Rounds a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Mike Rounds scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Dakota race scored, and the South Dakota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.