2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota

The 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota. Incumbent three-term Republican U.S. Senator John Thune, who is the Senate Minority Whip, was first elected in 2004, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Daschle, the then-Senate Minority Leader. He ran for reelection to a fourth term.^[1] The Democratic nominee was 26-year Navy, Air Force JAG Corps veteran, and former college professor Brian Bengs. Thune was ultimately reelected, becoming the first Senator from South Dakota to be elected to a fourth term since Karl Mundt in 1966, and only the second to do so after Mundt.^[2]

2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 2016 November 8, 2022 2028 →

Nominee John Thune Brian Bengs Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 242,316 91,007 Percentage 69.63% 26.15%

County results Thune:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Bengs:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election John Thune Republican Elected U.S. Senator John Thune Republican

Republican primary

On December 23, 2020, then-President Donald Trump said Thune would face a primary challenger after Thune refused to support a challenge of the 2020 Electoral College results, tweeting:^[3] "Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election. RINO John Thune, 'Mitch's boy', should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn't like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!" South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated she would not challenge Thune for the seat.^[4] On January 1, 2021, Trump tweeted that Noem should challenge Thune in a primary, despite Noem previously saying she would not do so, instead running for re-election as Governor in 2022.^[5]

Candidates

Nominee

• John Thune, incumbent U.S. Senator (2005–present) and Senate Minority Whip (2021–present)^[1]

Eliminated in primary

• Mark Mowry, musician and rancher^[6]
• Bruce Buffalo Dreamer Whalen, Oglala Sioux tribal administrator, former chair of the Oglala Lakota County Republican Party, and nominee for South Dakota's at-large congressional district in 2006^[7]

Withdrew

• Patrick Schubert, software executive^[8]

Declined

• Marty Jackley, former South Dakota Attorney General (2009–2019) and candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2018 (ran for Attorney General)^[9][10]
• Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2019–present) (ran for re-election)^[11]
• Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) and former U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2011–2019) (ran for re-election)^[4]

Endorsements

John Thune

Organizations

• American Israel Public Affairs Committee^[12]
• Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions^[13]
• NRA Political Victory Fund^[12]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Mark Mowry	John Thune	Bruce Whalen	Undecided
South Dakota State University[14]	May 2–15, 2022	– (LV)	± 3.0%	4%	46%	10%	41%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Dusty Johnson	Kristi Noem	John Thune	Undecided
Fabrizio Lee (R)[15][A]	January 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	30%	–	47%	23%
				–	49%	40%	10%

Results

Results by county

  Thune

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

Republican primary results^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Thune (incumbent)	85,613	72.24%
	Republican	Bruce Whalen	24,071	20.31%
	Republican	Mark Mowry	8,827	7.45%
Total votes			118,511	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Brian Bengs, U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran, and former Northern State University political science professor^[17]

Declined

• Troy Heinert, Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2019–present) from the 26th district (2015–present)^[18]
• Brendan Johnson, former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota (2009–2015) and son of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson^[19]
• Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president of Augustana University (2017–present) and former U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2004–2011)^[19]
• Billie Sutton, former Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2015–2019) from the 21st district (2011–2019) and nominee for governor in 2018^[20]

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominee

• Tamara Lesnar, small business owner^[21]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[22]	Solid R	November 19, 2021
Inside Elections[23]	Solid R	January 7, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[24]	Safe R	November 3, 2021
Politico[25]	Solid R	April 1, 2022
RCP[26]	Safe R	January 10, 2022
Fox News[27]	Solid R	May 12, 2022
DDHQ[28]	Solid R	July 20, 2022
538[29]	Solid R	June 30, 2022
The Economist[30]	Safe R	September 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Brian Bengs (D)

Organizations

• National Association of Social Workers^[31]
• Let America Vote^[32]
• End Citizens United^[33]
• Common Defense^[34]
• Sisters United - South Dakota.^[35]
• Teamsters Local 120 ^[36]

U.S. Senators

• Doug Jones, U.S. Senator from Alabama (2018–2021)^[37]

John Thune (R)

Organizations

• Animal Wellness Action^[38]
• International Franchise Association^[39]
• National Right to Life Committee^[40]
• National Wildlife Federation^[41]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	John Thune (R)	Brian Bengs (D)	Tamara Lesnar (L)	Undecided
South Dakota State University[42]	September 28 – October 10, 2022	565 (RV)	± 4.0%	53%	28%	–	20%
Lake Research Partners (D)[43]	September 6–11, 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	46%	33%	8%	11%
Moore Information Group (R)[44]	March 14–19, 2022	400 (LV)	± 5.0%	59%	24%	6%	11%

Results

2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota^[45]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Thune (incumbent)	242,316	69.63%	−2.20%
	Democratic	Brian Bengs	91,007	26.15%	−2.02%
	Libertarian	Tamara Lesnar	14,697	4.22%	N/A
Total votes			348,020	100.0%	N/A
	Republican hold

See also

• 2022 United States Senate elections
• 2022 South Dakota elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. This poll was sponsored by the American Potential Fund