Beaudion Quits South Dakota Senate Race, Clearing 2-Person Contest After Fire and Threats
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 4
Beaudion Quits South Dakota Senate Race, Clearing 2-Person Contest After Fire and Threats
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 4
Summary
Julian Beaudion withdrew by Tuesday’s ballot deadline, ending Democrats’ Senate bid in South Dakota and leaving independent Brian Bengs to face Republican incumbent Mike Rounds.
Beaudion said a devastating house fire and intimidating threats to quit drove his decision, adding that his family’s mental and physical safety had become his priority.
Brian Bengs called the move a patriotic step toward a two-person race, but Beaudion said he would not endorse or support Bengs.
South Dakota is the third red-state Senate race this year where a Democratic nominee has exited and cleared space for an independent, after Nebraska and Idaho; similar pressure has also surfaced in Montana.