Dem drops US Senate bid, leaving independent candidate as lone challenger to incumbent GOP Sen Mike Rounds

Democratic Senate candidate Julian Beaudion dropped out of the South Dakota race, leaving only GOP Sen. Mike Rounds and independent challenger Brian Bengs in the contest.

South Dakota Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion suspended his campaign Tuesday, clearing the way for independent candidate Brian Bengs to emerge as the lone challenger to Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) in November. Beaudion, a former state trooper, said he was ending his campaign because of a series of personal hardshi

South Dakota Senate Democratic candidate Julian Beaudion announced on Tuesday that he would be suspending his campaign for the upper chamber, leaving independent candidate Brian Bengs to take on Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) this fall.  “In recent weeks, my family has faced extraordinary personal challenges. As many of you