Retired military prosecutor Brian Bengs enters South Dakota Senate race as independent

Retired military prosecutor Brian Bengs is running for the United States Senate in South Dakota as an independent candidate, citing a need to disrupt the influence of large donors on the political system. Bengs, who served as a U.S. Air Force Academy instructor and a Wind Cave National Park ranger, frames his candidacy around a desire to implement term limits and curb lobbying by congressional staff.

The former Navy and Air Force service member positions his campaign against the current leadership in Washington, specifically targeting Sen. Mike Rounds. Bengs points to recent reports that one of Rounds' top advisers, who draws a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary and previously served as the senator's campaign manager, simultaneously works as a lobbyist for Meta. According to Bengs, this individual has lobbied in the South Dakota state capitol on issues they also advise Rounds on in the same day.

Bengs states that if elected, the first bill he would introduce would make all lobbying by congressional staff illegal. A second proposed bill would establish term limits for members of Congress. He argues that long-serving politicians in Washington have become out of touch with the needs of local communities.

The candidate also criticizes Rounds for spending more taxpayer money on private jets than any other member of the Senate, according to recent reports. While Bengs describes Rounds as a good man, he contends that the senator's voting record has negatively impacted South Dakota. Bengs notes that Rounds voted in favor of the Iran war whenever given the opportunity and supported tariffs that he claims are hurting the state's economy, including the assembly of Indian motorcycles.

Economic concerns form a central part of Bengs' platform. He cites rising costs for essentials such as gasoline and groceries, noting that beef producers in South Dakota face competition from imports that are not fairly labeled. Bengs asserts that Rounds voted for the law eliminating country-of-origin labeling for meat at grocery stores, even though the senator now says he wants to bring those rules back.

Wired reports that Rounds has received more campaign contributions from data center-tied interests than from all of South Dakota itself. Bengs links this funding to Rounds' vote for healthcare cuts intended to provide tax breaks for companies building data centers.

Bengs distances himself from partisan labels, stating he is not running as an anti-Trump or pro-Trump senator. He expresses disagreement with left-wing proposals such as defunding police and abolishing prisons, while also criticizing former President Joe Biden's border policies. His stated goal is to put South Dakota first and work across political lines when it benefits the state.