Former Northern State professor Brian Bengs to make another run at US Senate, this time as an Independent

One time Democrat candidate for US Senate and former Northern State professor Brian Bengs has announced a second run at the US Senate, this time as an Independent. Bengs made the announcement Wednesday, seeking South Dakota’s US Senate seat currently held by Republican Mike Rounds. Bengs ran as a Democrat against current Senate majority leader John Thune in 2024. In that race, Bengs lost to Thune earning 26.1 percent of the vote to Thune’s 69.6. Ina press release about his campaign, Bengs says he plans to unite the vote across the political spectrum. Rounds has not yet announced if he plans to seek re-election and Democrats have announced Sioux Falls businessman Julian Beadion will be seeking the Democrat nomination.