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U.S. Senate · South Dakota

Statewide, South Dakota.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Mike Rounds, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Mike Rounds184,58960.5%
Brian Bengs120,50939.5%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • This is the Class II U.S. Senate seat held by Mike Rounds, who first took office in 2015. Rounds defeated Justin McNeal 75.8%-24.2% in the June 2, 2026 Republican primary. South Dakota's Democratic primary was canceled after Julian Beaudion ran unopposed for the nomination, but Beaudion subsequently withdrew or was disqualified before the general election; Brian Bengs, the 2022 Democratic Senate nominee, is running against Rounds in the general election as an independent.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Mike RoundsRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Senator (since 2015)Full profile →Brian BengsINDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Mike Rounds
    Opposes[4]

    Sponsored S. 4880, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026, a bill to prohibit dismemberment abortions.

  • Brian Bengs
    Mixed[8]

    Says he respects a woman's right to choose and supports abortion restrictions after viability with exceptions for the life or health of the mother.

Stricter gun laws

  • Mike Rounds
    Opposes[5]

    Cosponsored S. 65, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025, a bill to allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

  • Brian Bengs
    In their own words[8]
    “As a gun owner, I favor reasonable gun safety measures and support your right to bear arms because self-defense isn’t up for debate.”

    On his campaign website's policy positions page

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[13][14][15]

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.

  • Brian Bengs
    In their own words[8]
    “effects-based reform must include a strong border security component and increased legal immigration.”

    On his campaign website's policy positions page

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[14][15]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.

  • Brian Bengs
    Supports[8]

    States that the ultra-rich should pay their fair share again, as in the 1960s.

Expand public health coverage

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[14][15]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[14][15]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[16][17]

    Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs. Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Mike Rounds
    Supports[7]

    Cosponsored S. 128, the SAVE Act, a bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Mike Rounds
    Recorded votes[18][19]

    Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote. Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports

  • Mike Rounds
    Supports[6]

    Cosponsored S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, which provides that for Title IX compliance in athletics, sex is recognized based solely on reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

  • Brian Bengs
    —

Research notes & limits

Biography pass: Bengs's official campaign site was not fetched; his biography rests on Ballotpedia and two news items reproducing his announcement release, so those claims are attributed to him where self-described.

Sources · 25

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Mike Rounds · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Brian Bengs · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2025-01-01 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.S. 4880: Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
  5. 5.S. 65: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
  6. 6.S. 9: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
  7. 7.S. 128: SAVE Act · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
  8. 8.Policy Positions · Brian Bengs for U.S. Senate Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Mike Rounds · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  10. 10.About Mike · Office of Sen. Mike Rounds · 2026-10-19 Official record
  11. 11.Mike Rounds · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  12. 12.South Dakota U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  13. 13.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
  15. 15.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
  20. 20.Brian Bengs · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Candidate's own words
  21. 21.Brian Bengs announces independent run for U.S. Senate · Dakota News Now · 2025-04-30 News report
  22. 22.Retired Air Force officer, former college prof Brian Bengs will run for U.S. Senate again, this time as an independent · South Dakota Standard · 2025-05-02 News report
  23. 23.United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  24. 24.Brian Bengs — 2022 election results · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  25. 25.U.S. Senate · South Dakota results 2026 · NBC News News report