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Brian Bengs
Brian Bengs (independent) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent South Dakota. He declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 3, 2026.[source]
Biography
Brian Bengs served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.[1] Bengs earned a bachelor's degree in history and international studies from Iowa State University in 1994, a juris doctor 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.[2] His career experience includes working as an assistant professor with Northern State University and the chief of general law/assistant general counsel with the U.S. Air Force.[2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Incumbent Mike Rounds, Julian Beaudion, and Brian Bengs are running in the general election for U.S. Senate South Dakota on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mike Rounds (R) | |
 | Julian Beaudion (D)  | |
 | Brian Bengs (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2022
See also: United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Incumbent John Thune defeated Brian Bengs and Tamara Lesnar in the general election for U.S. Senate South Dakota on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Thune (R) | 69.6 | 242,316 |
| Brian Bengs (D) | 26.1 | 91,007 | |
 | Tamara Lesnar (L) | 4.2 | 14,697 | |
| Total votes: 348,020 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Clayton Walker (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Brian Bengs advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Incumbent John Thune defeated Bruce Whalen and Mark Mowry in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Thune | 72.2 | 85,613 |
 | Bruce Whalen | 20.3 | 24,071 | |
 | Mark Mowry | 7.4 | 8,827 | |
| Total votes: 118,511 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Tamara Lesnar advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate South Dakota on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Tamara Lesnar (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask Brian Bengs to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@bengsforsouthdakota.com.
2022
Brian Bengs did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Bengs' campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
CLIMATE Heat, Drought, Storms, & Floods Cost US $145 Billion In 2021 Nearly 45,000 South Dakotans will face increased flood risk due to more frequent, heavier downpours. South Dakota can expect a roughly 75% increase in the severity of widespread summer drought by 2050. In the future, South Dakota will face more extreme heat, drought, and flooding. 2021 was a drought year for much of our state while 2019 brought us severe floods. Although both have happened before, the climate change risk is increased regularity and severity that imposes significant costs in human life, livelihood, and security. Widespread drought decreases crop yields and increases livestock feed prices for farmers and ranchers. Wildfires threaten total destruction of homes, businesses, and livestock. More frequent and heavier precipitation increases floods harming livestock, crops, homes, and businesses. These types of changes require coordinated federal and state action as costs are growing. After 40 years of self-sufficiency, the National Flood Insurance Program has relied upon billions in taxpayer subsidies since 2005 due to more frequent and severe hurricanes. Indeed, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has advocated for legislation to address the risk from rising sea levels. Even the Department of Defense treats climate change as a threat multiplier and is planning accordingly. American energy independence is first and foremost a national security issue, but it overlaps substantially with the climate issue. Oil is a global commodity so its price is determined by global events no matter how much is produced here. In fact, export of American oil was banned from 1977-2015 but that did not insulate gasoline prices from global events. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is simply the most recent in a string of events dating back to the 1973 OPEC oil embargo that highlight our dependence upon foreign actors. In contrast, electricity is not a global commodity because it cannot be put on a ship and taken elsewhere for sale so its price is only impacted by events here. Protecting our economy from the adverse consequences of overseas events is best accomplished by reducing our reliance upon oil as much as reasonably possible. Thus, maximizing development and implementation of clean energy sources offers a unique two for one return on our investment. In South Dakota, the sun shines bright and the wind blows hard (third-most-active winds in the US). It is precisely those attributes that give our state the potential to be a 21st century American energy leader. As senator, I will support actions such as tax incentives to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and for clean energy vehicles, investments to speed the transition of our economy from fossil fuels toward renewable sources, and more funding for renewable energy research. When I think about clean energy, I see Americans – South Dakotans – with good paying jobs and more money in their pockets due to lower utility bills. American ingenuity has changed the world in the past and it can do so again if we support the effort.
Working Hard Building Bridges So Hard-Working South Dakotans Can Get To Work Small businesses donate 250% more to community causes than large businesses. At least $9.3 billion would recirculate in local economies if every American family spent $10 per month at a local business. Small businesses are the key to prosperity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a thriving economy in both South Dakota and America. Nationally, small businesses created two-thirds of all new jobs over the past decade. In South Dakota, 99% of businesses are small and account for 58.5% of paid employees in our state. For every dollar spent at a small business, $0.67 recirculates in the community where it fosters creation of more local businesses and jobs. Thriving small businesses generate higher tax revenue which also stays local to help fund law enforcement, emergency response, and schools. Fostering small business growth requires responsible investments in public education and job training programs connecting skilled workers with jobs here. Although corporate outsourcing of jobs to foreign workers continues to harm our economy and American workers, a much bigger risk is looming. Rapid advancements in automated intelligence and artificial intelligence technology are poised to fundamentally change the U.S. job market within the next 10 to 20 years. This year John Deere debuted a tractor that doesn’t need a driver. Freight hauling companies are pursuing similar technology to eventually eliminate the need for truck drivers. Meat processing companies are already implementing robotic automation to minimize the need for workers. Similarly, fast food restaurants are currently installing robot cooks that can identify specific foods, pick them up, and cook them in designated fry baskets before placing the finished product into a holding area. Physical activities in controlled and predictable surroundings are most prone to automation. Such activities comprise roughly half of American jobs worth nearly $3 trillion in wages. The increased productivity and cost reduction of automation is obviously quite appealing to business, but Congress cannot simply ignore the likely impact upon our economy and society. For example, payroll taxes collected from current workers fund the Social Security benefits of all current retirees. Robots are not paid so the potential decline in payroll taxes will jeopardize the sustainability of Social Security. I will work proactively with business and labor leaders to develop innovative policies that smooth the transition. New approaches to training and education, income support, and social safety nets must be studied in good faith.
Strong On National Defense & Military Jobs In South Dakota Federal defense spending accounts for 1.1% of South Dakota's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 6.2% of South Dakota's 57,550 veterans live in poverty. Our state proudly hosts the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base and will welcome new B-21 Raider bombers in the near future. The wing falls under the mighty Eighth Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command where I have worked on each commander’s staff so I am quite familiar with the Ellsworth mission and its role in our national defense strategy. Military spending in South Dakota, $377 million in payroll and $238 million in contracts, is an important part of our economy. As senator, I will pursue additional federal investment to build and diversify the military’s economic impact and work with state leaders to foster associated industries and the jobs they create. Most importantly, I will work to answer the national defense identity crisis afflicting our country. Determining the correct force structure and amount of defense spending requires Americans to know who we are and what we stand for in this unfriendly world. At the end of World War II, the U.S. played a key role in establishing a rules-based international system to prevent or minimize armed conflict and a network of allied democracies (NATO) as a force multiplier to support it. This system is what defeated Soviet communism and is now being actively undermined by China and Russia who seek a return to the “might makes right” international system of the 19th century. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a clear example of this “might makes right” approach. Although imperfect, the rules-based international system is essential to maintaining peace and minimizing suffering. Preserving a close relationship with allies who share our democratic values makes us all safer and saves money. 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. At the same time, it emboldens the use of armed force against smaller nations by both Russia and China. In 2020, our defense budget was larger than the next 11 countries combined. Russian action against Ukraine has it poised to increase substantially next year. In 1953, President Eisenhower observed that “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.” As a career military officer, I certainly understand the need for an effective military but I also share President Eisenhower’s concerns about what our society trades for it and will work to maximize accountability for defense spending.
Focused On Helping Regular Americans With A Fairer Tax Code The Bezos yacht value is $500 million. He would pay $.03 for every dollar over $1 billion. The median South Dakota home value is $167,000. South Dakotans pay $.01 per dollar of home value. 740 American billionaires are worth $5.1 trillion, including $2 trillion accumulated during the COVID pandemic. Elon Musk alone has more wealth than 40% of Americans. For decades our country, regular Americans, have been victimized by the false promise of trickle-down economics – we would all be better off if those at the top had more for themselves. Instead, our national debt has gone up dramatically, good paying jobs went overseas, and our middle class is hollowed out while billionaires pay a lower tax rate than they do. It’s no secret that regular Americans are priced out of our government because money speaks loudest to lifetime politicians. When these same politicians support a tax code that only benefits wealthy elites, they are not looking out for the majority of Americans who work for a living. I am focused on helping regular South Dakotans so I support a wealth (yacht) tax. A wealth tax is imposed annually on the net wealth held by a person. In South Dakota every homeowner and farmer/rancher with agricultural land is subject to its equivalent in the form of a property tax. Real estate is an asset whose financial value is regularly calculated by county assessors. South Dakotans pay an average effective tax rate of 1.22% of a property’s value regardless of their income level. A federal wealth tax of 2% would apply to households worth $50 million to $1 billion. The wealthiest 75,000 households in America would pay $0.02 for every dollar above $50 million. Households worth more than $1 billion would be subject to a 3% wealth tax. 740 Americans would thus pay $0.03 on every dollar over $1 billion. Paying pennies per dollar would not impact the lifestyle of ultra-millionaires or billionaires at all. If you aren’t sure about asking some of the wealthiest people who ever lived for pocket change to help fund our government, consider some conservative views: “Billionaires should not be paying a lower rate than you are paying, no matter who they are, no matter who the president is. The main problem with America right now is that a shrinking group of people controls a growing share of our nation’s wealth and power. America is lopsided, and it’s getting more lopsided every year. That makes our country unstable.” — Tucker Carlson (2019)[4] |
” |
| —Brian Bengs' campaign website (2022)[5] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Brian Bengs For Senate, "Meet Brian Bengs," accessed May 14, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 LinkedIn, "Brian Bengs," accessed June 25, 2022
- ↑ Twitter, "Brian Bengs for U.S. Senate," accessed June 25, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Brian Bengs For Senate, “My Policy Issues,” accessed May 14, 2025
