Sen. John Thune seeks fourth term in lopsided campaign vs. Brian Bengs

Nov. 4—SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — In 2004, John Thune was the insurgent taking on an entrenched incumbent seeking a fourth term when he defeated Sen. Tom Daschle, who at the time was the top Democrat in the Senate.

This year, Thune, one of the top Republicans in the Senate, has reversed roles, seeking his own fourth term. Even so, he says little has changed.

"I may not be perceived as an underdog candidate anymore, but I don't think you treat any election differently," Thune told Forum News Service. "You always have to go out and earn the vote."

Thune's challenger, Democratic candidate Brian Bengs, says his impetus to mount a challenge came from the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and related "threats to democracy."

"It's hard when you're playing defense on so many issues, they have to try and attack somewhere," Thune said of the Democratic messaging. "I think they've picked that issue, but I just don't think it resonates out here in South Dakota."

Thune said the "past election is over."

Bengs, who served

19 years in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's corps,

announced his candidacy late last year at a small event in Aberdeen, where he's lived since retiring from the military in 2016.

The main thread of the Bengs campaign is a populist message in favor of the working class and opposed to institutional power structures, which explains his opposition to money in politics and his support of term limits.

He says these realities have been part of the reason that regular people have been unable to find a strong voice in Congress.

"If democracy isn't influenced by big money, it is a tool for regular folks to stand up to the power and influence of big money," said Bengs, who has promised not to accept corporate dollars.

Thune, on the other hand, points to a record of getting things done, mentioning stints as the chair of the commerce and agriculture committees, where he dealt with issues like aviation, transportation and farm policy with direct impacts on South Dakotans.

"There are lots of folks who make noise and get lots of attention," Thune said. "I've always felt like you want to be the person that just kind of keeps your head down and does the work."

The incumbent says that, if re-elected for the coming term along with a Republican majority in either the Senate or House, his priorities would include "forcing [Democrats] to come to the table" on handling rampant inflation. Thune says he believes Bengs would have voted for the $3.5 trillion spending package that dominated headlines last fall.

"If something is beneficial for regular folks, I am a reliable vote," Bengs said about whether he would be someone who votes regularly with the Democratic Party. "If it's not, then I am not a reliable vote."

Looking at voter registration totals,

polling

and fundraising — where Thune's

nearly $6 million in spending

since his last election in 2017 dwarfs Beng's

$350,000

— the race is all but over.

However, Bengs feels as if he never quite got a chance; the first and only debate of the cycle was set for the evening of Nov. 4, well into early voting and just three days before Election Day.

"[Thune has] never said my name, which I guess is both good and bad, but more bad than good," Bengs said. "In John Thune's mind, he is running unopposed."

Jason Harward is a

Report for America

corps reporter who writes about state politics in South Dakota. Contact him at

605-301-0496

or

jharward@forumcomm.com.