In South Dakota’s Senate race, Republicans have started to increase their spending significantly as election day approaches, while many local voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s economic policies.
Between August 11 and Monday, Republican-aligned spending reached nearly $1.2 million to support Republican Senator Mike Rounds. In contrast, independent groups have reportedly spent around $516,000 to back independent candidate Brian Bengs, according to data from Polaris, a media-buying firm. Notably, support for Rounds surged from just under $18,000 in mid-September to over $285,000 the next week, reflecting a wider trend in GOP strongholds as frustration with Trump’s economic direction remains palpable.
The South Dakota Conservative PAC has also invested heavily, allocating $590,861 to oppose Bengs. Their expenditures jumped from over $55,000 in the first week of September to more than $139,000 the following week, consistently spending six figures throughout September.
Broadcast ad spending by the PAC rose dramatically as well, climbing from around $24,000 in early September to over $73,000 shortly after, and hitting $85,000 by the end of the month.
Another #SDSEN internal poll: A Public Policy Polling survey conducted for Brian Bengs (I) found him and Sen. Mike Rounds (R) within the margin of error 🔴Rounds 45% ⚪️Bengs 42% ❓Undec. 13% Sept. 8-9; 629 RVs; +/-3.6% https://t.co/V5AFZ7qsHl
— Nicholas Anastácio (@NenoNicolosio) September 10, 2026
Interestingly, Rounds has removed Trump’s name from his campaign homepage after previously promoting the president’s endorsement.
The decision to import 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef has reportedly not gone over well with South Dakota voters, as Rounds noted that local ranchers feel this move is a betrayal. He stated, “The suggestion that they bring in 300,000 metric tons of beef is not a popular program. They feel just like the administration pulled the rug right out from underneath a lot of our farmers and ranchers.”
A political strategist commented that Trump’s low approval ratings among independents present a significant challenge, especially with Bengs running as an independent.
Since the start of the Iran war, Trump’s approval in South Dakota has dropped from 54% to around 47%. About 45% of surveyed individuals indicated disapproval of the president’s performance.
Recent polls show Rounds with a slimmer lead than anticipated, with a September 30 poll by Zenith Research indicating a 44% to 38% lead for Rounds, while Public Policy Polling showed him at 45% to 42% ahead.
In the 2020 elections, Rounds secured his Senate seat by a significant margin, winning 65.7% to 34.3% against Dan Ahlers, the Democrat nominee.
As of now, Rounds’ campaign has not provided any comments to the inquiries made.
In a September 30 Zenith Research poll, Rounds recorded a 43% approval rating alongside a 48% disapproval rating. Earlier in July, an Emerson College poll reflected an even lower approval at 32% with a 43% disapproval rating.
Bengs seems to be capturing a notable share of independent voters, leading by a striking 47 points among that group, according to Zenith.
Comparatively, Senate Majority Leader John Thune had stronger polling numbers against Bengs when he pursued reelection as a Democrat in 2022. In a poll from late September and early October 2022, Thune was leading Bengs by a notable margin of 53% to 28%.
Ultimately, Thune triumphed over Bengs by a substantial 43.5-point lead, achieving 69.6% to 26.2%.
It’s worth noting that South Dakota hasn’t had a Democratic senator since January 3, 2015, when Tim Johnson retired. Currently, the state’s political landscape is dominated by Republicans, controlling the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office, and the state legislature.
Affordability continues to be a pressing topic in the midterm elections, particularly as the Iran war has contributed to surging prices. The conflict led to a more than 40% increase in gas prices, which has significantly impacted food costs.
This election cycle has seen Republicans pour unprecedented amounts into states that are not typically competitive. For instance, GOP PACs have invested around $200 million to bolster Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Democratic opponent James Talarico, who currently leads by an average of 2.8 points.
Furthermore, the Senate Leadership Fund intends to allocate $14 million in Kansas, a state that hasn’t had a Democratic U.S. senator since 1939. As of Monday, Republican Senator Roger Marshall and his Democratic rival Adam Hamilton were reportedly tied at an average of 45.8%.
In North Carolina, Republican PACs have paused funding in a battleground state where nominee Michael Whatley is trailing former Governor Roy Cooper. Investment in Georgia has also slowed as efforts continue to reclaim the seat held by Democrat Jon Ossoff.
In response to some comfortable leads held by Cooper, Democrats have reduced their expenditures as well.
The Senate Leadership Fund has committed $5 million to support Republican Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina, where she has a slight lead of about two points over her Democratic opponent.
