Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate · South Dakota

2 candidates on the ballot.1,2

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Mike Rounds
REP · Incumbent
Currently serves as a U.S. senator from South Dakota.
Brian L Bengs
IND · Challenger

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

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Mike RoundsBrian L Bengs
Party on the ballotREP1IND1
StatusIncumbent3Challenger
Raised$3,810,748 through October 14, 20264$1,855,763 through October 14, 20265
Cash on hand$1,295,5434$69,7085
Outside spending$795,596 for · $1,099,718 against6$670,836 for · $925,339 against7
Abortion lawHis campaign website says he is pro-life, and that as governor he signed a trigger law, in effect since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, that bans abortion in South Dakota except when the mother's life is at risk.8
Legal until about 24 weeks, as under Roe v. Wade, and later to protect the woman's life or health
His campaign website says he respects a woman's right to choose and supports restricting abortion after the point of viability, with exceptions for the life or health of the mother.9

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Mike Rounds — 3 issues
  • US Department of Education
    Close the department and move or end its programs
    His campaign website says he is working with President Trump to lead the effort to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, and that he favors local control of education.8
  • Border wall and barriers
    His campaign website says he has consistently supported funding for building the border wall, surveillance technology and more border enforcement personnel.8
  • Social Security benefit levels
    His campaign website says he supports reforms to keep Social Security and Medicare solvent without cutting benefits.8
Brian L Bengs — 13 issues
  • Ethics rules for Supreme Court justices
    Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions
    His campaign website says Congress must impose enforceable ethics standards on the Supreme Court.9
  • Supreme Court term limits
    Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
    His campaign website supports term limits for Supreme Court justices and says Congress can achieve the same result without a constitutional amendment.9
  • Campaign finance rules
    Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
    His campaign website calls for a constitutional amendment to end the unlimited corporate political spending allowed by the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision.9
  • Drawing district lines (redistricting)
    Have independent commissions, not lawmakers, draw district lines
    His campaign website supports federal redistricting reform that would take the drawing of congressional maps out of the hands of partisans.9
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    Ban members and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks
    His campaign website says members of Congress and their spouses should be banned from buying, selling or holding individual stocks while in office.9
  • Term limits for Congress
    Longer limits, such as 12 to 18 years in each chamber
    His campaign website says no senator should serve more than two terms (12 years) and no representative more than six terms (12 years), and he pledges to serve no more than two terms himself.9
  • Data centers and electricity costs
    Pause or limit new data centers
    His campaign website calls for halting construction of new data centers and says he will oppose legislation that does not give local communities a workable way to say no to data center projects.9
  • Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
    His campaign website calls for getting out of the war with Iran and says that as a senator he would not have voted to enter it or to continue it.9
  • Health insurance system
    His campaign website calls for a complete overhaul of American health care to lower costs and improve access, through what it describes as a five-stage process.9
  • Legal immigration levels
    Admit more immigrants, such as by adding work visas or clearing family backlogs
    His campaign website says immigration reform must include strong border security and increased legal immigration, which it says are needed for economic growth and to keep Social Security strong.9
  • Federal income tax rates
    His campaign website says the wealthiest Americans should again pay their fair share, as in the 1960s, and that taxes can be lowered for small businesses and working people.9
  • Federal spending levels
    His campaign website says balancing the federal budget and paying down the national debt are imperatives, and it attributes about half of the debt to tax cuts passed since 2000.9
  • Private care for veterans
    His campaign website opposes privatizing VA health care, noting that most of the VA's recent health care budget went to private contractors, and says staff shortages and cuts are delaying veterans' care.9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.