Like its neighbor to the north, South Dakota was once a red state that frequently sent Democrats to the Senate, counting 1972 presidential nominee George McGovern and one time Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle among its representatives. But the era of ticket-splitting is over, and South Dakota’s Senate seats are now held two Republicans, one of whom, John Thune, is running for reelection. Currently serving as the Republican whip, Thune is a predictably solid conservative vote (During the Trump administration, he helped draft the Republicans’ failed repeal of Obamacare; earlier this year, he voted against the bipartisan gun control bill passed in the wake of the Uvalde shooting), but he hasn’t been afraid to stand against the party when it harms its constituents (he was very critical of the Trump’s farm tariff relief plan) or his conscience (he steadfastly opposed Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election). Conservative, but non-controversial – an underrated combination that should help Thune cruise to reelection.

His opponent, Brian Bengs, has only lived in South Dakota since 2016, and has only been a Democrat since April. A formerly independent U.S. Navy veteran and college professor, Bengs only switched party allegiances to get on the ballot, and his pet issue is one that probably won’t be embraced by Senate Democrats who’ve marked the past two years by passing historic spending bills. He wants to exempt people who make up to four times the median income (as well as families that make up to $248,000 and businesses that make $100 million or less) from federal income tax and make states pay a percentage of their income to the federal government. It’s a bold plan – but, thanks to South Dakota’s voting patterns and the Democratic Party’s ideological leanings, not one we’ll ever get to see Bengs try and pass.

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