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U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate, South Dakota
November 3, 2026 · 12 statements · 2026.09.23-05421c55
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Candidates
Brian L Bengs
Independent
Sourced positions on 7 of 12
Limited data. Sourced positions on fewer than 60 percent of the statements.
Federal premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans should be expanded.
Background
These subsidies lower the monthly cost of health plans bought on HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces. Expanding them would lower premiums for more buyers and increase federal spending.
Federal law should require background checks for all gun sales, including private sales.
Background
Federal law requires background checks for sales by licensed dealers but not for most sales between private individuals. This would extend the requirement to private sales.
The executive actions the president announced today will make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to legally obtain firearms and do nothing to fix the problem of gun violence.
Campaign or official site · Jan 5, 2016 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
Abortion laws should be set by each state rather than by Congress.
Background
Since the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision, each state sets its own abortion laws. Agreeing means Congress should not pass a national law that either expands or restricts access.
I respect a woman's right to choose and support abortion restrictions after the point of 'viability' with exceptions for the life or health of a mother.
Campaign or official site · Sep 23, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
I think the individual states will come up with a whole a lot of different ideas about how to appropriately discuss abortion in general...to have Congress step back in and tell all the states we know better than them is probably not the best direction to go.
if we're going to pursue energy independence, it seems like the best path is through clean energy and not the fossil fuels market where we have to go through places like Russia, and just trying to increase the production of oil
Energy independence is of vital importance to our national security... To create energy independence, I believe we need an 'all of the above' approach... to complement our proven energy sources.
Campaign or official site · Jan 1, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
The federal government should limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
Background
This would set federal limits on the carbon pollution power plants release. It concerns regulation by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.
We have a limited number of electric generating resources in South Dakota. Each facility is absolutely vital to meeting the energy needs of my state and our surrounding states.
Campaign or official site · Feb 11, 2015 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
The U.S. should keep broad tariffs on imported goods.
Background
Tariffs are taxes paid on imported goods. Since 2025 the U.S. has applied tariffs to imports from most countries, and this statement is about keeping them in place.
Economic prosperity is achieved by enabling your agricultural producers to succeed, instead of ruining their markets through tariffs and corporate concentration.
Campaign or official site · Feb 26, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
On the Joint Resolution S.J.Res. 37 (terminating the national emergency declared to impose duties on articles imported from Canada): Rounds (R-SD), Nay.
Free and fair elections are a foundation of our democracy. Part of that fairness is making sure only United States citizens are voting for our leaders.
Campaign or official site · Jan 16, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026
A president should be able to send the National Guard into a state over its governor's objection.
Background
Governors normally command their state's National Guard, but federal law lets a president take control of it in some situations. Since 2025, the use of that power to send troops into cities has been challenged in court.