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R Republican · Incumbent · U.S. Senate, South Dakota · Nov 3, 2026

Mike
Rounds

Republican U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, incumbent since 2015, running for reelection in 2026.

Researched checked 7 d ago
sources
28
positions
11
endorsements
4
roundsforsenate.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponent Brian L. Bengs I Compare race →

Background

Marion Michael Rounds is a Republican U.S. senator from South Dakota, first sworn in on January 6, 2015. 12 Born in Huron, South Dakota, he resides in Fort Pierre and earned a B.S. in political science from South Dakota State University in 1977. 25

Before his Senate career, Rounds built an insurance and real estate business with offices throughout South Dakota. 2 He was elected to the South Dakota state Senate five times, serving from 1991 to 2000, before becoming the state's 31st governor, a position he held from 2003 to 2011. 2

Rounds launched his reelection bid on January 22, 2026, seeking another Senate term. 13

At a glance

Party
Republican · Incumbent
Running for
U.S. Senate, South Dakota
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
U.S. Senator for South Dakota
Website
roundsforsenate.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Voting record

How Mike Rounds voted in Congress: 118th Congress (2023–24) and 119th Congress (2025–26), Jan 23, 2023 to Sep 30, 2026. From the official House and Senate roll call records.

roll call votes
1,606
missed
2.6%
with their party’s majority
92%

Recent key votes

  • Sep 30, 2026 · Senate · PN1129 · Economy & jobs
    Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor
    On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Sep 28, 2026 · Senate · S4668 · Education
    A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.
    On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Aug 8, 2026 · Senate · PN1078 · Crime & public safety
    Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General
    On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Aug 8, 2026 · Senate · HR6500 · Taxes & budget
    An act making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes.
    On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Aug 7, 2026 · Senate · HR5334 · Foreign policy & defense
    An act to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, as championed by the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, and for other purposes.
    On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Jul 28, 2026 · Senate · PN1092 · Foreign policy & defense
    Walter Clayton, of New York, to be Director of National Intelligence
    On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Jun 5, 2026 · Senate · S2 · Taxes & budget
    An original bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 33.
    On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes
  • Apr 16, 2026 · Senate · HJRES140 · Climate & energy
    A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.
    On the Joint Resolution · Joint Resolution Passed
    Official roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)
    Yes

Key votes are final decisions on bills and joint resolutions, and top nominations. Software sorts each into an issue from its official title, so check the roll call. All 1,606 votes →

Timeline

  1. Oct 9
    debate
    Bengs challenges Rounds to public town-hall debate before Election Day

    Bengs publicly challenged Rounds to a public town-hall debate before the November 3 election, citing concerns about data centers' water and electricity use, land impacts, and public input. KOTA reported Rounds had already declined invitations from SDPB and KELOLAND; no response from Rounds to the new challenge was reported.

    Bengs challenges Rounds to public debate before Election ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 8
    controversy
    Rounds-supporting PAC ad uses image of former KELOLAND anchor without consent

    South Dakota News Watch reported that a Rounds-supporting PAC ad used an image of former KELOLAND anchor Tom Hanson. KELOLAND said it does not endorse political candidates. Federal broadcast rules prevented the station from rejecting the ad.

    Fact Brief: Can political ads use images of journalists without permission? · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 5
    endorsement
    South Dakota Right to Life endorses Rounds

    Dakota War College reported that South Dakota Right to Life endorsed Mike Rounds, noting concerns about Bengs's positions on social issues including abortion.

    From my mailbox, Bengs isn’t very conservative on social issues, particularly the right to life · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 3
    news
    Sen. Rounds meets with Anthropic leaders at South Dakota Mines to discuss AI's future

    Senator Rounds participated in discussions with Anthropic leaders at South Dakota Mines about the future of artificial intelligence.

    Sen. Rounds, Anthropic leaders talk AI's future at South Dakota ... · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Oct 2
    news
    Rounds calls on Trump to suspend federal gas and diesel taxes for 90 days

    Rounds urged President Trump to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for 90 days and asked states to consider suspending their own fuel taxes. He also urged use of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic refinery capacity. Combined suspensions would save consumers an average of 52 cents/gallon on gas and 60 cents/gallon on diesel.

    Rounds Calls for Federal Gas and Diesel Tax Suspension ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 30
    poll
    Lake Research Partners poll shows Bengs at 51%, Rounds at 42%

    A Lake Research Partners poll of 500 likely voters, described as independent by Hub City Radio, found Bengs at 51% and Rounds at 42%, with 7% undecided.

    Latest polls involving the U.S. Senate race · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 24
    news
    Rounds attends South Dakota Right to Life convention

    Rounds's September 24 weekly update noted he had attended the South Dakota Right to Life convention during the week of September 14–20.

    Weekly Round[s] Up: September 14-20, 2026 · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sep 24
    poll
    Zenith Research poll shows Rounds 44%, Bengs 38%; pushes to 50–50

    A Zenith Research poll of 500 likely voters (Sept. 24–27), commissioned by Bengs's campaign, found Rounds at 44% and Bengs at 38%. When undecided voters were pushed to choose, the result was reported as 50–50. Margin of error ±4.4 points.

    44% Rounds 38% Bengs 17% Undecided … / X · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  9. Sep 22
    debate
    Rounds declines KELOLAND debate; interviewed separately instead

    KELOLAND reported Rounds declined its formal debate invitation. The station interviewed each candidate separately. Rounds said, 'I'm not ignoring the public, I'm actually going directly to them.'

    READ: A conversation with U.S. Senate candidates Bengs, Rounds · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sep 18
    news
    Outside groups spend ~$600K supporting Rounds; AI PAC pledges $2M to Senate Republicans including Rounds

    Reporting based on federal filings said outside groups had spent about $600,000 supporting Rounds, including by Defend American Jobs, plus ~$215,000 from AI/tech company employees and PACs. The AI-focused super PAC Leading the Future announced a $2 million allocation to several Senate Republicans, including Rounds.

    AI PAC Spends Nearly $1 Million on Uncertain Senate Race - Hitechub · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  11. Sep 15
    news
    Rounds has raised $4.5M vs. Bengs's $782K, per FEC filings

    An Argus Leader report citing the latest FEC filings said Rounds had raised $4.5 million, relying primarily on PAC contributions, compared to Bengs's $782,000 from mostly individual donations.

    Bengs says he'll be South Dakota's 1st independent in D.C. · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sep 14
    debate
    Bengs criticizes Rounds for declining SDPB Senate debate invitation

    Bengs participated in a South Dakota Public Broadcasting Senate debate; Rounds declined the invitation. Bengs publicly criticized Rounds's decision not to appear.

    My Opponent is Dodgin' Debates · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sep 9
    poll
    PPP poll shows Rounds at 45%, Bengs at 42%

    A Public Policy Polling survey of 629 respondents showed Rounds at 45% and Bengs at 42%, according to a poll compilation on Smarter.Vote.

    South Dakota Senate race 2026 | Smarter.Vote · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • AIPAC organization
    Listed as an endorser in a 2026 election profile; specific endorsement date not established in the sources located. en.wikipedia.org
  • Campaign for Working Families organization
    Listed as an endorser in an iVoterGuide profile for the 2026 race; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
  • NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) organization
    Listed as an endorser in 2026 election profiles; Rounds holds an A+ grade from NRA-PVF on its South Dakota page, but a specific endorsement date was not found. nrapvf.org
  • Donald Trump official
    Trump endorsed Rounds on Truth Social on July 21, 2025, per the Argus Leader and South Dakota News Watch voter guide. argusleader.com · Jul 21, 2025

Past elections

General election results for federal office, from the Federal Election Commission.

YearSeatResultVotesShare
2020U.S. Senate SD · RWon276,23265.7%

Covers the 2016 to 2022 general elections. The FEC has not yet published 2024 congressional results.

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$4.51M
Spent
$3.46M
Cash on hand
$2.74M

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record S4SD00049(opens in a new tab)

Sources 28

  1. [1] South Dakota Senate race 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  2. [2] Bengs challenges Rounds to public debate before Election ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  3. [3] Fact Brief: Can political ads use images of journalists without permission?(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  4. [4] Latest polls involving the U.S. Senate race(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  5. [5] From my mailbox, Bengs isn’t very conservative on social issues, particularly the right to life(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  6. [6] Grades | South Dakota(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
  7. [7] Sen. Rounds, Anthropic leaders talk AI's future at South Dakota ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  8. [8] Rounds Calls for Federal Gas and Diesel Tax Suspension ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  9. [9] 44% Rounds 38% Bengs 17% Undecided … / X(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
  10. [10] Weekly Round[s] Up: September 14-20, 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  11. [11] READ: A conversation with U.S. Senate candidates Bengs, Rounds(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
  12. [12] AI PAC Spends Nearly $1 Million on Uncertain Senate Race - Hitechub(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  13. [13] Mike Rounds(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  14. [14] Bengs says he'll be South Dakota's 1st independent in D.C.(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
  15. [15] My Opponent is Dodgin' Debates(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  16. [16] Rounds, Hyde-Smith Lead Legislation to Ban Barbaric ...(opens in a new tab) Jun 24, 2026
  17. [17] Rounds announces U.S. Senate reelection bid(opens in a new tab) Jan 22, 2026
  18. [18] Trump-backed US Sen. Mike Rounds launches reelection bid(opens in a new tab) Jan 22, 2026
  19. [19] Rounds Joins Lee and Roy on SAVE Act to Secure Federal ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 16, 2026
  20. [20] Education | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota(opens in a new tab) Sep 4, 2025
  21. [21] On the Issues(opens in a new tab) Aug 26, 2025
  22. [22] Housing | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds(opens in a new tab) Jul 29, 2025
  23. [23] Rounds Releases Statement on Reconciliation Passage(opens in a new tab) Jul 1, 2025
  24. [24] Health Care | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds(opens in a new tab) May 13, 2025
  25. [25] Rounds takes aim at 'red flag' gun laws | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds(opens in a new tab) Apr 8, 2021
  26. [26] General election(opens in a new tab) Nov 12, 2020
  27. [27] Rounds: Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Fails to Address Basic ...(opens in a new tab) Dec 19, 2018
  28. [28] 'Peace Through Strength' | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds(opens in a new tab) Jul 7, 2017
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