United States Senator South Dakota in Statewide, South Dakota

2026 Primary Election

• Brian L Bengs — Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel in SD

  Brian Bengs is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, having served 19 years domestically and abroad. He holds a Master of Laws degree and previously taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Northern State University. Bengs previously ran for U.S. Senate in South Dakota in 2022 as a Democrat, and is now running as an Independent in 2026. He is motivated by a desire to combat hyper-partisanship and "Big Money" influence, advocating for a military-informed problem-solving approach to represent South Dakotans effectively.