CC BY 2.0
IndependentRunning for SD U.S. Senate · 2026
Brian Bengs
Brian A. Benjamin (born December 9, 1976) [ citation needed ] is an American politician and businessman who was the lieutenant governor of New York from September 2021 until he resigned on April 12, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party , he represented the 30th district in the New York State Senate from 2017 to 2021.
Born 1976 · New York City , New York , U.S.
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03
Brian Bengs, an independent candidate and former New York lieutenant governor and state senator, is running for U.S. Senate from South Dakota in 2026. He trails in polling at about 32% compared to opponent Mike Rounds' roughly 48%. Bengs has raised approximately $700,000 for his campaign.
31.5%
Polling average
our aggregate
$666k
Raised this cycle
FEC · committee
Independence scorecard
Computed · FEC money mixWho Bengs's money comes from.
B+
78/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans independent — small-dollar reliance is the standout.
1 watch item · in-state funding
Small-dollar reliance100
64% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence96
1% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding18
82% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure100
No significant outside spending in support so far
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
Governing & voting record
—
No legislative record
Roll-call votes and sponsored bills are collected for members of Congress from congress.gov. There is no roll-call source for this office yet.
Where they stand
—
Key positions not yet compiled
Positions are drawn from the candidate's public record and statements. We haven't compiled a verified set for this candidate yet.
How they vote
—
No party-unity or ideology scores
Party-unity and DW-NOMINATE ideology scores are only available for candidates with a congressional roll-call record.
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Career & history
2021Lieutenant Governor of New York
2021–2022
—Member of the State Senate of New York
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Donors & money
FEC itemized filings · cycle-to-dateWho funds the campaign.
$666k
Raised
$608k
Spent
$58k
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
64% small (<$200)35% large indiv.1% PAC
18% in-state · 82% out-of-state (itemized)
Top contributors · bundled by employer / org
ICSI
$7k
RD OFFUTT CO.
$7k
BENGS FOR SOUTH DAKOTA
$4k
ELLA FINANCIAL ADVISING
$4k
CAMPION
$4k
CLAREMONT FOODS LLC
$4k
Top industries · itemized $
Lawyers / law firms$4k
Education$3k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-05-13 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING.
Race
The contest Bengs is running in.
SD · SENATE · 2026safe r
Bengs (I) vs Mike Rounds (R)
31.5%−16.5 Rounds48%
Open full race detail →
Related prediction markets
All markets →Live contract prices tied to Bengs and the seat. Prices are ¢-per-share of the YES outcome; context only, never merged into our polling averages.
Will the Republicans win the South Dakota Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Republican
Will the Democrats win the South Dakota Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Democrat
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in South Dakota?
predictit · Republican Party
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in South Dakota?
predictit · Democratic Party
South Dakota Senate winner?
Kalshi · Mike Rounds
South Dakota Senate winner?
Kalshi · vol $1 · Julian Beaudion
Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK · CC BY 2.0 (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
Related coverage
Independent · SD U.S. Senate
Brian Bengs
Brian A. Benjamin (born December 9, 1976) [ citation needed ] is an American politician and businessman who was the lieutenant governor of New York from September 2021 until he resigned on April 12, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party , he represented the 30th district in the New York State Senate from 2017 to 2021.
Where Bengs standsRace →
Bengs 31.5%Mike Rounds 48%
31.5%
Poll avg
$666k
Raised
In brief
AI · verified vs data · 2026-07-03Brian Bengs, an independent candidate and former New York lieutenant governor and state senator, is running for U.S. Senate from South Dakota in 2026. He trails in polling at about 32% compared to opponent Mike Rounds' roughly 48%. Bengs has raised approximately $700,000 for his campaign.
Governing & voting record
—
No legislative record
Roll-call votes and sponsored bills are collected for members of Congress from congress.gov. There is no roll-call source for this office yet.
Where they stand
—
Key positions not yet compiled
Positions are drawn from the candidate's public record and statements. We haven't compiled a verified set for this candidate yet.
Career & history
2021Lieutenant Governor of New York
2021–2022
—Member of the State Senate of New York
Public favorability
—
No favorability data
This candidate isn't tracked by YouGov's public-figure panel, and no published state polling on their favorability was found.
Independence scorecard
Who Bengs's money comes from.
B+
78/100
Independence index
Funding mix leans independent — small-dollar reliance is the standout.
1 watch item · in-state funding
Small-dollar reliance100
64% of individual + PAC money from donors under $200
PAC independence96
1% of individual + PAC money from PACs
In-state funding18
82% of itemized receipts come from out of state
Outside-money exposure100
No significant outside spending in support so far
MONEY-MIX INDEX, COMPUTED FROM FEC FILINGS ONLY: SMALL-DOLLAR SHARE, PAC RELIANCE, IN-STATE MONEY AND OUTSIDE (IE) SPENDING. IT DOES NOT SCORE VOTES OR DONOR–VOTE ALIGNMENT. HIGHER = MORE INDEPENDENT · GREEN ≥70 · AMBER 50–69 · RED <50.
How they vote
—
No party-unity or ideology scores
Party-unity and DW-NOMINATE ideology scores are only available for candidates with a congressional roll-call record.
Ratings from advocacy groups
—
No advocacy-group ratings
Interest-group scorecards have no machine-readable feed — they're curated per candidate, and none are on file yet.
Donors & money
$666k
Raised
$608k
Spent
$58k
Cash on hand
Source of funds · individual + PAC
64% small (<$200)35% large indiv.1% PAC
18% in-state · 82% out-of-state (itemized)
Top industries · itemized $
Lawyers / law firms$4k
Education$3k
OWN-COMMITTEE TOTALS FROM FEC FILINGS THROUGH 2026-05-13 · INDUSTRY GROUPS ARE ITEMIZED RECEIPTS CLASSIFIED BY EMPLOYER — A KEYWORD APPROXIMATION, NOT OPENSECRETS CODING.
Related prediction markets
All markets →Will the Republicans win the South Dakota Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Republican
Will the Democrats win the South Dakota Senate race in 2026?
Polymarket · Democrat
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in South Dakota?
predictit · Republican Party
Which party will win the 2026 US Senate election in South Dakota?
predictit · Democratic Party
South Dakota Senate winner?
Kalshi · Mike Rounds
South Dakota Senate winner?
Kalshi · vol $1 · Julian Beaudion
Sources & provenance
Biography
Public record
Wikipedia + state records
Money & donors
FEC filings
itemized + committee totals
Markets
Live venues
Polymarket · Kalshi
ALL FIGURES DRAWN FROM PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS · CANDIDATE PROFILES ARE NONPARTISAN AND CARRY NO ENDORSEMENT. · PHOTO: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK · CC BY 2.0 (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)