Knobe: Either Beaudion or Bengs should withdraw from Senate race
I am sure Julian Beaudion is basking in the glory of being endorsed by former President Joe Biden at the McGovern Dinner last week. I know I would be.
Friends in attendance said Julian gave a good speech. The endorsement and enthusiasm probably produced some energy and oxygen/money for his campaign.
Recently, I posted two articles written by Democrats about the U.S. Senate race. Both asking Julian Beaudion to step aside and join a unified effort to retire Mike Rounds by supporting Brian Bengs, the independent.
Those posts have gotten plenty of reaction. Both positive and negative. Not surprising.
Both Bengs and Beaudion have built loyal followers.
Last July I wrote to them expressing my concern about having a three-way race for the job in November 2026. History shows a three-way race favors the incumbent. Even an unpopular one. Those against the incumbent split the vote between the two candidates and the incumbent ultimately wins.
That is not the desired outcome.
Last year there was a conversation between Brian and Julian.
Allegedly discussed was a possible solution to the three-candidate problem. As sometimes happens in politics there is disagreement between them on the outcome of that discussion. I wasn’t in the room, so I can’t determine what was said and not said.
We are less than five months away from the election. Both men are running hard. No indication from either one about stepping aside to help the other accomplish the ultimate goal, retire Mike Rounds.
I’m not a political genius. I’m not an “in the weeds” numbers guy.
Republicans outnumber Democrats by over two to one. Independent and No Party Affiliated voters outnumber Democrats by several thousand.
Independents shun party labels and party dogma.
In simple terms political parties are gangs. Most members are fiercely loyal to their gang. Not necessarily bad unless that loyalty blinds the gang to the harsh reality of numbers.
Democrats have not won statewide office since 2008. Good people have tried.
Democrats have not been able to find amongst their 140,000 members some candidates to run for local county commissions and legislative seats.
From my perspective, this isn’t about who is the best man. Both are exceptional. Both have great credentials and life experiences. This is about who is best able to help us retire Mike Rounds.
Another reality, there are gang members (Ds and Rs) who will never vote for a member of the other gang, even if it is Jesus.
A non-gang member (independent) may have a better chance at attracting disgruntled Rs, Ds, and Is, to pull off a political upset and defeat Mike Rounds.
One of them has raised more money. That same person allegedly has greater name recognition amongst the voters. Both positive things to help create a victory.
For the record, I am a former R. Been an independent for over a decade.
From my perspective, Rs have gone to the dark side. Their gang leader has led them, and us, down the wrong path. Ds are passionate, but disorganized. It is hard to know what their party/gang priorities are, except to be against the Rs.
Based on the current reality since neither man seems willing to step aside and help the other, Mike Rounds is sure to win. That’s an outcome we don’t want.
The path to victory for both men is like climbing Mt. Everest. It takes lots of Sherpas (helpers) and plenty of oxygen (money) to reach the top. In my opinion, neither man can get enough of both to succeed. One helping the other get to the top makes getting the top possible.
With less than five months to go, it appears Brian Bengs has more Sherpas and more oxygen.
Retiring Mike Rounds would be a victory for all of us, Democrats, independents, and many Republicans.
Candidates stepping aside is not unusual. It’s happened in at least three other states, in this election cycle. Maine, Utah and Nebraska.
It takes plenty of courage and some ego to run. It takes wisdom and prudence to know when to step aside for the greater good and look ahead to the next opportunity/election.
The current make-up of the U.S. Senate has been a rubber stamp for almost all of Trump’s efforts to hurt us and help himself and his rich friends.
If we keep our focus on the big picture, retiring Mike Rounds, a united front of disgruntled Repubs, independents and Dems is necessary.
Jullian Beaudion or Brian Bengs need to step aside, soon. The man who does will be considered not a loser, but a hero and a statesman.
The independent Rick Knobe is a former Sioux Falls mayor and a regular contributor to The South Dakota Standard.
Photo: Beaudion, from his website
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