Brian Bengs

Brian Bengs is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and judge advocate officer, an attorney and a former Northern State University criminal justice professor. He was the Democratic nominee for this seat in 2022, losing to John Thune, and is running in 2026 as an independent against Sen. Mike Rounds. His campaign themes include getting money out of politics and making the cost of living affordable.[1][2][3][4]

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][3] 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.[3]

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][3] In 2022 he was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate and lost to John Thune, 69.6% to 26.1%.[3][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that he would run as an independent in 2026; Ballotpedia lists the Democratic primary winner, Julian Beaudion, as withdrawn.[2][4] Bengs describes himself as a husband and father and says he has been active in South Dakota civic activities.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.