Independent U.S. Senate candidate Brian Bengs sustains his fundraising advantage over Democratic candidate Julian Beaudion. Their latest filings with the Federal Election Commission show that, from May 14 through June 30, Bengs raised more than six times as much money as Beaudion:
| Bengs | Beaudion | Rounds | |
| 2025 Q1 | — | — | 337,056.87 |
| 2025 Q2 | 77,542.44 | 61,082.32 | 413,095.91 |
| 2025 Q3 | 76,628.11 | 67,245.94 | 510,835.18 |
| 2025 Q4 | 161,158.37 | 32,277.68 | 369,959.79 |
| 2026 Q1 | 235,337.61 | 30,542.04 | 465,111.66 |
| 2026 Q2 Pre-Primary (4/1–5/13) | 97,486.70 | 17,333.90 | 206,781.01 |
| 2026 Q2 Post-Primary (5/14–6/30) | 113,555.54 | 18,039.53 | 452,050.59 |
| Total Raised | 761,708.77 | 226,521.41 | 2,754,891.01 |
| Amount Spent This Cycle | 710,042.53 | 221,840.10 | 1,515,593.51 |
| Cash on Hand 6/30 | 51,405.51 | 3,078.11 | 2,736,663.91 |
| Debts/Obligations 6/30 | 0.00 | 14,458.22 | 0.00 |
Beaudion had the chance during this reporting period to ride McGovern Day enthusiasm and former President Joe Biden’s endorsement to a campaign finance boost. But Bengs keeps raking in more dollars.
Both Beaudion and Bengs started campaigning a year ago in Quarter 2. Beaudion’s total 2026 Q2 haul of $35,373.43 was 42% less than what he raised in 2025 Q2. Meanwhile, Bengs’s 2026 Q2 total of $211,042.24 was 172% more than his fundraising in 2025 Q2.
Beaudion did improve from the preceding quarter, 2026 Q1, by 16%, but Q1 was his lowest fundraising period of the campaign so far. Bengs raised 10% less in Q2 than Q1, but his Q1 this year was his best fundraising period yet.
As of June 30, Bengs had $51,405.51 in cash on hand and zero debt. Beaudion’s $3.078.11 cash on hand was already spoken for, as his campaign was carrying $14,458.22 in debt.
Combined, Bengs and Beaudion have raised $988K, barely a third of what incumbent Mike Rounds has raised this cycle to keep his Senate seat. But over 15 months of campaigning, independent Brian Bengs has raised over three quarters of the money that people are willing to give to an opposition candidate in South Dakota’s U.S. Senate race.
This is happening in Montana, too. Seth Bodnar’s unaffiliated campaign has raised over $2.1 million in total contributions, outpacing his Republican opponent Kurt Alme while Democrat Alani Bankhead has garnered less than $24,000.
Rounds can have the shotgun on his statue related with a BB gun.
Replaced.
Three hundred thousand dollars? For a 1/50 share?
A plank of DSA – ’26 is to abolish the Senate.
I guess that would be a 1% share. (Sorry. SD math student.) #grins
Dan Osborn will appear on Nebraska’s Nov. 3 ballot as an unaffiliated US Senate candidate after state election officials verified that his campaign submitted enough valid petition signatures to qualify.
https://www.1011now.com/2026/07/16/dan-osborn-officially-nebraskas-us-senate-race/
Mr. Beaudion sure has his flaws, with the Biden money and being a Dem, but he is indeed beating the pants off the fellow who wants him to quit. Those two should go in a closet and arm wrestle. We don’t need to know who wins, because it doesn’t matter. Mr. Rounds is going to mop up and won’t even have to empty the bucket.
Mrs. Turbak Berry wants Mr. Beaudion to suspend.
https://www.turnsdpurple.com/blog/opinion-put-people-before-party?fbclid=IwZnRzaATJ37FwZG9mBWZkaWQWUK3djNqlMyCCzaYSZ5NenVvIMd37TGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6SDa8IqLDRJPuWCj39dZdrUAGpR6WiGQWUofMkETPFqG0g6y1k0Y3PgTq_qQ_aem_QIK6pR7yhkaWoFLQgKX07w