South Dakota Senate race

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports term limits and campaign finance reform

Bengs makes anti-corruption reform the focal point of his campaign, advocating for constitutional amendments to overturn Citizens United and eliminate corporate political spending. He advocates for strict term limits of 12 years for both senators and representatives and pledges to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, he signed a pledge refusing campaign contributions from AI-data center interests.

• Supports a constitutional amendment to ban corporate super PAC spending and overturn Citizens United.
• Pledges to limit his own Senate service to two terms (12 years) and supports maximum 12-year term limits for all members of Congress.
• Supports age limits for lawmakers and reforms to hold the Supreme Court accountable.
• Signed the Independence from AI-Data Center Money Pledge, refusing data center campaign contributions.

“The Supreme Court screwed regular people with the Citizens United (2010) decision, declaring unlimited corporate political spending free speech.”

“No senator should be in office more than two terms (12 years), and no representative more than six terms (12 years).”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Opposes open primary initiatives

Rounds supports traditional political party primary structures and conservative governance models. In 2024, he actively opposed South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H, which would have created a top-two open primary election system. He continues to run as a endorsed Republican within the established party system.

• Opposed South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H (Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative) in 2024.
• Endorsed by President Donald Trump for re-election.

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports federal wealth tax and balancing budget

Bengs advocates for unrigging the tax code by enacting a federal wealth tax on ultra-millionaires and billionaires to force them to pay their fair share. He argues that corporate dominance and tax cuts for the wealthy have hollowed out the middle class, driven inflation, and increased the national debt. He also supports balancing the federal budget and investing in local small businesses.

• Proposes a 2% annual federal wealth tax on households worth $50 million to $1 billion and 3% on wealth over $1 billion.
• Supports balancing the federal budget and paying down the national debt.
• Promotes local small business growth to retain tax revenue and create community jobs.

“A federal wealth tax of 2% would apply to households worth $50 million to $1 billion.”

“We let billionaires buy politicians to rig the system so they can pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports lower taxes and balanced budget

Rounds emphasizes fiscal discipline, tax reduction, and federal spending restraint to keep South Dakota's economy strong. He supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, citing South Dakota's state budget model as a template for Washington. He supported key Republican fiscal legislation including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill and the No Tax on Tips Act.

• Supports a federal balanced budget amendment to force the federal government to live within its means.
• Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) reconciliation package in 2025.
• Supported the No Tax on Tips Act (S.129) and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

“South Dakota balances its budget every single year. The federal government should do the same. Mike supports a balanced budget amendment.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Opposes Iran involvement and supports international alliances

Bengs, a career military veteran and retired lieutenant colonel, opposes U.S. intervention in Iran, criticizing career politicians for dragging the nation into foreign conflicts that deplete munitions stockpiles. He supports a rules-based international order and NATO, arguing that 'America First' isolationism undermines national security. However, he also strongly supports local military installations like Ellsworth Air Force Base.

• Opposes ongoing U.S. military involvement in Iran, calling for immediate accountability and withdrawal.
• Supports maintaining strong relationships with international allies and NATO to uphold a rules-based international system.
• Supports federal military investment in South Dakota, including Ellsworth Air Force Base and the B-21 Raider bomber program.

“In contrast, the “America First” ideology of the Republican Party isolates us by abandoning our allies and withdrawing from the international system to face threats alone.”

“If I were a United States Senator, I wouldn’t have voted to get into this quagmire in the first place.”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports America First defense and military strength

Rounds aligns with President Trump's 'America First' platform, prioritizing robust national defense spending and maintaining military superiority. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, he consistently votes for national defense authorization bills and military funding. He signed the 2015 Senate Republican letter to Iran's leadership and voted for emergency supplemental aid packages for foreign allies.

• Serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity.
• Voted for National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for FY 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026.
• Signed the 2015 Senate Republican letter warning Iran that executive agreements could be modified by future Congresses.
• Voted for H.R.815 appropriating foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine in 2024.

“Mike stands with President Trump and his America First agenda. In the Senate, Mike will always fight for and support policies that put South Dakota and America FIRST!”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports clean energy transition and local data center limits

Bengs supports expanding clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar to protect the economy from global oil price volatility and combat climate change. He advocates for federal tax incentives for energy efficiency and clean vehicles. Additionally, he actively opposes unmonitored AI-data center expansion, demanding that local communities maintain the right to reject data center construction.

• Supports federal tax incentives for building energy efficiency, clean energy vehicles, and renewable energy research.
• Opposes over-reliance on global oil and highlights climate risks like droughts and severe flooding in South Dakota.
• Signed a pledge opposing AI-data center legislation that lacks local community veto authority.

“Protecting our economy from the adverse consequences of overseas events is best accomplished by reducing our reliance upon oil as much as reasonably possible.”

“I will oppose any legislation that does not offer local communities a clear and workable opportunity to say “no” to AI-data center development.”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports all-of-the-above energy and domestic development

Rounds supports an 'all-of-the-above' energy policy focused on maximizing domestic natural resource production to achieve complete energy independence and lower utility costs. He opposes federal regulatory burdens on energy producers, supports construction of the Keystone Pipeline, and has questioned EPA ethanol mandates that could hurt local producers.

• Advocates for maximizing domestic energy production to lower consumer costs and eliminate foreign energy reliance.
• Supports the Keystone Pipeline and opposes federal environmental regulations on energy producers.
• Questioned EPA ethanol rule decisions to protect South Dakota agricultural ethanol interests.

“Mike is a strong advocate for American energy independence and supports an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy production.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports affordable healthcare and protecting Social Security

Bengs focuses on establishing affordable, accessible healthcare and eliminating medical debt, which he identifies as the leading cause of bankruptcy. He pledges to safeguard Social Security and Medicare, warning that increasing workplace automation and robotics could shrink payroll tax revenues needed to fund Social Security.

• Prioritizes accessible, affordable healthcare to relieve families burdened by medical debt.
• Pledges to safeguard Social Security and Medicare from benefit cuts.
• Proposes policy solutions to address the impact of artificial intelligence and job automation on Social Security payroll tax revenue.

“medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy”

“Robots are not paid so the potential decline in payroll taxes will jeopardize the sustainability of Social Security.”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Opposes Obamacare and protects Medicare solvency

Rounds favors repealing Obamacare and replacing it with market-based, patient-centered healthcare solutions. He opposes single-payer healthcare systems and advocates for protecting Medicare and Social Security solvency for current and future retirees without cutting benefits.

• Opposes Obamacare and single-payer healthcare, favoring market-driven healthcare alternatives.
• Pledges to protect Medicare and Social Security solvency without benefit reductions.
• Voted Nay on S.2882, which would have extended expanded health insurance premium tax credits.

“Mike opposes Obamacare and would work to repeal and replace it with market-based, patient-centered solutions.”

“Mike is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports stable society and funding local law enforcement

Bengs emphasizes that the foundational role of government is to maintain a safe, stable society where citizens can enjoy individual liberty. He notes that vibrant local small businesses generate essential tax revenue to adequately fund local law enforcement and emergency services.

• States government exists to maintain a safe and stable society.
• Connects local small business growth to generating tax revenue for law enforcement and emergency response.

“Government exists to create a stable and safe society where regular people can enjoy the liberty to lead a life of meaning and purpose”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports border wall and strict immigration enforcement

Rounds views border security as a vital component of national security, advocating for strict enforcement to halt human trafficking and illegal drug flows. He supports dedicated funding for physical border walls, surveillance technology, and additional enforcement personnel. In the Senate, he voted for strict detention laws for unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft.

• Supports federal funding for border wall construction, advanced technology, and border enforcement staff.
• Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5) requiring detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for burglary or theft.
• Voted Nay on dismissing impeachment charges against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

“Mike believes that border security is essential to national security, and that we must stop the flow of illegal drugs and human trafficking across our southern border.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports keeping government out of personal decisions

Bengs frames personal privacy and health decisions around a core platform commitment to keep government out of private business. His campaign platform emphasizes individual autonomy and limited government interference in citizens' personal lives.

• Includes 'Keep Government Out of Your Business' as a central pillar of his campaign platform.

“Keep Government Out of Your Business”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Pro-life and opposes federal abortion access

Rounds is anti-abortion and consistently opposes federal legislation expanding abortion access. As Governor of South Dakota, he signed the state's 2006 trigger law, which took effect in 2022 to ban abortion except to save the life of the mother. He actively opposed the 2024 South Dakota constitutional amendment establishing a right to abortion.

• Signed South Dakota's 2006 trigger law as Governor, banning abortion except to preserve the life of the mother.
• Opposed South Dakota Constitutional Amendment G (Right to Abortion Initiative) in 2024.
• Voted Nay on the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R.3755).

“Mike is pro-life and always defends the rights of the unborn.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports public education investments and job training

Bengs supports responsible federal and state investments in public education and job training programs. He emphasizes the need for educational programs to connect skilled workers with local jobs and prepare the workforce for technological changes caused by artificial intelligence.

• Supports investments in public education and vocational job training programs.
• Calls for educational adaptations to train workers facing job automation.

“Fostering small business growth requires responsible investments in public education and job training programs connecting skilled workers with jobs here.”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports eliminating Department of Education and local control

Rounds works alongside Donald Trump to eliminate the federal Department of Education. He opposes federal 'one size fits all' educational directives, advocating instead for local community control over school standards and curriculum.

• Supports eliminating the federal Department of Education.
• Advocates for local control of education over federal directives.

“Mike is working with President Trump to lead the effort to eliminate the Department of Education.”

I Independent Brian Bengs

Supports agricultural climate protection and local markets

Bengs emphasizes protecting farmers and ranchers from escalating climate hazards such as severe droughts and flooding. He warns that increased weather volatility damages crop yields and raises feed prices for livestock, requiring coordinated federal support.

• Highlights drought and flooding risks to South Dakota crop yields and livestock feed prices.
• Supports local economic recirculation through small businesses and regional agricultural support.

“Widespread drought decreases crop yields and increases livestock feed prices for farmers and ranchers.”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports ethanol mandates and domestic beef labeling

Rounds defends South Dakota's agricultural producers by advocating for clear domestic beef labeling and protecting ethanol production targets. He has challenged federal EPA decisions that threatened to lower required ethanol volumes for oil companies.

• Supported legislation enforcing 'Product of U.S.A.' labels for domestic beef.
• Questioned EPA ethanol decisions to ensure steady demand for local ethanol producers.

“Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune took action, Wednesday, ensuring beef products labeled ‘Product of the U.S.A.’ are in fact from the United...”

R Republican Mike Rounds

Supports Second Amendment rights and opposes restrictions

Rounds strongly supports Second Amendment rights and opposes federal gun control measures. In the Senate, he voted to roll back ATF regulations on stabilizing braces and voted against bipartisan firearm regulation legislation.

• Voted Yea on H.J.Res.44 to disapprove ATF regulations regarding firearm stabilizing braces.
• Voted Nay on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S.2938) in 2022.

“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.”