Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, is projected to win another term in the U.S. Senate, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). The projection came as the state's reliably Republican electorate backed the incumbent over his opponent, Brian Bengs, who ran as an independent after leaving the Democratic Party.
Rounds, 72, has served in the Senate since 2015, following two terms as South Dakota's governor. His victory was widely expected; DDHQ gave him a 95 percent chance of winning heading into Election Day.
Bengs, a Democrat-turned-independent, struggled to gain traction in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in decades. His campaign was underfunded, and a previous Democratic challenger had dropped out in August, leaving Bengs as the sole alternative to Rounds.
A moderate Republican with Trump's backing
Rounds has carved out a reputation as a moderate Republican, occasionally breaking with former President Donald Trump. Still, he earned Trump's endorsement this cycle, a sign of the party's consolidation behind him.
In the Senate, Rounds holds seats on several influential committees, including Appropriations, Armed Services, Banking, Indian Affairs, and Intelligence. That positioning has placed him at the center of negotiations over government funding and foreign policy, and he has been a key player in shaping bipartisan legislation.
He also chairs the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus and co-leads a bipartisan working group focused on AI policy, an area of growing importance in Congress.
Key legislative wins
Rounds was a driving force behind the bipartisan housing package that passed both chambers earlier this year. He has also worked on provisions in the annual defense policy bill to support Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, a major economic engine for the state.
His victory in the Senate race comes as Republicans are also defending the state's sole House seat, which is expected to remain in GOP hands.
With his reelection secured, Rounds will continue to play a significant role in the Senate, particularly on issues like defense, technology, and fiscal policy.
