South Dakota Senate Democrat drops out, leaving independent candidate to run against Rounds 

South Dakota Senate Democratic candidate Julian Beaudion announced on Tuesday that he would be suspending his campaign for the upper chamber, leaving independent candidate Brian Bengs to take on Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) this fall.  “In recent weeks, my family has faced extraordinary personal challenges. As many of you know, we experienced a devastating house fire while continuing to navigate significant personal financial hardship,” Beaudion said in a statement shared on social platform X. “After the fire, an opponent and those associated with the opponent, hit my family and I with intimidating threats to drop out of this race,” he added, saying that the “mental and physical safety of my family is my priority.”  Beaudion noted he was not endorsing Bengs, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, or Rounds ahead of November — the only two candidates remaining in the race.  Still, Bengs lauded Beaudion’s decision and said he would be seeking the former South Dakota State Trooper’s input in his campaign heading into the general election.  “We both recognize the most important goal here is retiring Mike Rounds,” the independent said in a statement, calling Beaudion a “patriot.” “As a small business owner,........

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