Brian Bengs

Bengs is an enlisted U.S. Navy veteran and a retired Air Force officer, and he has lived and worked in the United States and abroad.[1][4] He earned a bachelor's degree in history and international studies from Iowa State University in 1994, a J.D. from the University of Iowa in 1996, a master's degree in history from Louisiana Tech University in 2007, and a master's degree in international and comparative law from George Washington University in 2007.[1] As an Air Force judge advocate general (JAG) officer, he served as chief of general law and assistant general counsel for the Air Force.[1][2] He taught law and policy topics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and the NATO School Oberammergau.[4]

After his military career, Bengs became an assistant professor and criminal justice professor at Northern State University, and he later worked as a ranger at Wind Cave National Park.[1][2][4] In 2022 he was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and lost to John Thune, 69.6% to 26.1%.[4][5] On April 30, 2025, from Hot Springs, he announced that he would run as an independent in 2026; Ballotpedia lists the Democratic primary winner, Julian Beaudion, as withdrawn.[2][7] Bengs describes himself as a husband and father and says he has been active in South Dakota civic activities.[4] During the 2026 campaign, his themes included getting money out of politics and making the cost of living affordable.[2][7] He received 39.5% of the vote to Mike Rounds's 60.5%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]