Left-wing politicos are hurling spoiler accusations in South Dakota.

But this time, it’s backers of an independent calling for the Democratic candidate’s departure from the U.S. Senate race.

Brian Bengs is a Democrat-turned-independent with statewide name recognition and a growing campaign war chest. He now lives in Hill City, but used to live in Aberdeen.

That has some progressive activists questioning whether Democrats are backing the strongest challenger to incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Rounds.

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The debate has intensified in recent weeks as Bengs continues to out-raise Democratic nominee Julian Beaudion. Public polling also suggests Bengs might be better positioned to compete against Rounds in November.

Both Bengs and Beaudion are longshots to unseat Rounds, the two-term Republican senator who also spent eight years in the governor’s mansion. But polling and fundraising disparities have fueled calls among some progressive activists for Beaudion to step aside.

“A Bengs–Rounds race could be very competitive — if only the Democratic candidate would step aside,” South Dakota Standard opinion writer Julia Natvig recently wrote in an op-ed published on the left-leaning political commentary blog South Dakota Standard, widely read by South Dakota progressives.

Natvig is a retired occupational health nurse and co-leader of Common Grounds Indivisible South Dakota.

She noted that, contrary to political tradition, an independent candidate in this race might not siphon votes from the Democrat — the dynamic could unfold in reverse.

The discussion has led some donors, activists and political operatives on the left to openly question whether Democrats should consolidate behind Bengs, who challenged Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as a Democrat in 2022 before launching his current campaign as an independent.

Federal Election Commission filings show Beaudion reported about $3,000 cash on hand at the end of the most recent reporting period, also showing about $14,000 in outstanding debt. Bengs, meanwhile, reported raising more than $101,000 during the first quarter and approximately $721,000 for the election cycle. He had about $58,000 cash on hand.

The Bengs campaign, which notes that its candidate has been a lifelong independent sans 18 months when he ran for Senate in 2022, also points to internal polling it says shows the race tightening.

Bengs’ campaign, though, is not among those calling for Beaudion to leave the race.

“The decision to enter or exit a race is up to the individual running,” said Clara Bronikowski, press secretary for the Bengs campaign. “That decision should be made with what is best for the people of South Dakota in mind.”

Just south of the state line, Democrats in Nebraska have effectively cleared the field for an independent candidate for a better chance of defeating an incumbent GOP senator.

Democratic candidate Cindy Burbank ran in and won the Democratic primary with the stated intention of withdrawing from the general election and endorsing independent candidate Dan Osborn, whom many Democrats view as a stronger challenger to Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. The strategy is designed to avoid splitting anti-Republican votes between a Democrat and an independent.

“Candidate Julian Beaudion should follow the Nebraska example, bow out and throw his support to Bengs to enable a competitive Senate race,” Natvig wrote.

Others on the left have voiced similar thoughts.

Beaudion

Beaudion isn’t on board and rejects the narrative that he’s the weaker candidate.

“I will not be dropping out of this race,” he said. “South Dakotans deserve a leader who listens and is an accurate reflection of who we are and serves their needs. I am the only candidate doing that work, and I am ready to lead.”

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“I believe in allowing the process of democracy to play out,” Beaudion told The Dakota Scout. “As candidates, it’s our responsibility to go out and earn the support of voters. I have held 28 town halls across the state, visited with folks in 33 counties and three of the reservations. I am shaping my policies with the voices of South Dakotans leading the way,” the former highway patrolman added.

Rounds

For Rounds, incumbency coupled with affiliation with South Dakota’s majority political party gives him strong odds of winning a third term on Capitol Hill on Nov. 3, whether it’s a two-candidate field or three.

Rounds campaign spokesman Rob Skjonsberg said the posturing among progressives suggests both challengers’ campaigns don’t stand a chance.

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“Maybe Julian should ask (Bengs) to drop out? That’d probably make more sense,” Skjonsberg said. “I would have won every track meet in high school if everyone would have quit for me. That’s an acknowledgment of a weak candidate and candidacy.”