South Dakota Democratic Senate candidate drops out, leaving independent to run against Rounds
Beaudion said he and his family faced intimidating threats and would not endorse either candidate, leaving Brian Bengs to challenge Mike Rounds.
- On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, South Dakota Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion suspended his campaign, clearing the way for independent Brian Bengs to face Republican Senator Mike Rounds one-on-one.
- Beaudion cited "intimidating threats to drop out of this race" and personal financial hardships, recently exacerbated by a house fire, as reasons for his departure in a statement posted Tuesday.
- Prominent Democrats including Steve Jarding, former executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, urged Beaudion to withdraw to consolidate support behind Bengs, arguing the Democratic brand in South Dakota is too damaged.
- Campaign advisor Rob Skjonsberg said the Democrats "traded down for a socialist" with Bengs, while Senator Rounds maintains a significant financial advantage with $3.9 million on hand.
- The Democratic Party Central Committee faces a Tuesday, Aug. 11, deadline to nominate a replacement candidate, though Beaudion stated he will not endorse either Bengs or Rounds.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Democrat quits Senate race in South Dakota, boosts the independent candidate in deep-red state
South Dakota Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion has quit his campaign, blaming personal trauma and unspecified "threats and attacks" from a political opponent.
Dem drops US Senate bid, leaving independent candidate as lone challenger to incumbent GOP Sen Mike Rounds
Democratic candidate Julian Beaudion dropped out of the South Dakota U.S. Senate race, leaving an independent candidate as the lone candidate challenging Republican Sen. Mike Rounds.
Herseth Sandlin, Sutton, Smith—Democrats Have One Week to Replace Beaudion… But Will They?
Democrat Julian Beaudion announced his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race at the last possible moment: SDCL 12-6-55 allows nominees to withdraw their names from the ballot no later than the first Tuesday of August (that was yesterday, August 4) at 5 p.m. The Secretary of State’s general election candidate list indicates that Beaudion’s formal request to withdraw was received and certified yesterday. Assuming Beaudion’s bail is not part of a lo…
South Dakota Democratic Senate candidate drops out, leaving independent to run against Rounds
South Dakota Senate Democratic candidate Julian Beaudion announced Tuesday he would suspend his campaign for the upper chamber, leaving independent candidate Brian Bengs to take on Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) this fall. “In recent weeks, my family has faced extraordinary personal challenges. As many of you know, we experienced a devastating house fire while continuing…
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