TSDP Pulse #1: What South Dakotans Told Us After the Beaudion-Bengs Conversation
Following the July 1 conversation between U.S. Senate challengers Julian Beaudion and Brian Bengs, Turn South Dakota Purple invited viewers to complete our first TSDP Pulse survey.
This was not a scientific poll of South Dakota voters. Rather, it was an opportunity for people who watched the conversation to share what resonated with them, what questions remained, and how they viewed one of the most unusual moments of the 2026 campaign.
42 viewers responded, including one participant who submitted responses by email.
Several themes emerged.
Viewers valued the conversation itself.
Overall, how valuable did you find this conversation?
Participants rated the overall value of the conversation an average of 4.0 out of 5 stars, and 80 percent said South Dakota benefits from longer-form political conversations over traditional debates built around short answers and rapid exchanges.
That finding is encouraging.
One of Turn South Dakota Purple's goals is to create opportunities for candidates to discuss issues with greater depth than is often possible in a televised debate. While viewers naturally disagreed on many of the candidates' answers, there was broad agreement that the format itself offered something worthwhile.
Character mattered more than policy.
What influenced your opinion the most?
When asked what influenced their impressions most, viewers most frequently cited character.
Electability and experience followed closely behind.
Healthcare, affordability, civil rights, campaign finance reform, immigration, and foreign policy all appeared in responses, but much less frequently.
That suggests many viewers weren't simply asking, "Which policies do I agree with?"
They were asking, "Who do I trust?"
There was no unanimous winner.
Who communicated their vision best?
When asked which candidate communicated his vision more effectively, 55 percent selected Julian Beaudion, while 35 percent selected Brian Bengs. A small number remained unsure or believed neither candidate had communicated more effectively.
The responses reflected what many observers saw after the conversation itself. Some viewers valued Beaudion's optimism and personal story. Others appreciated Bengs' emphasis on electability, fundraising, and campaign strategy.
Rather than producing consensus, the conversation helped clarify the different priorities viewers bring to evaluating candidates.
The August 4 question remains.
Voters Are Open to Unity
Nearly four in five respondents said they would support the remaining challenger if either Julian Beaudion or Brian Bengs withdrew before South Dakota's August 4 candidate withdrawal deadline, suggesting many viewers are prioritizing defeating the incumbent over party affiliation.
Perhaps the most consequential question in the survey centered on South Dakota's August 4 candidate withdrawal deadline.
Asked whether they would support the remaining challenger if either Beaudion or Bengs withdrew before ballots are finalized, 78 percent answered yes, while others remained unsure or said they would not.
The responses suggest many viewers remain focused on the strategic realities of a three-candidate race against incumbent Senator Mike Rounds, even as they continue to weigh the merits of each challenger individually.
Looking ahead
The July 1 conversation was never intended to persuade viewers toward one candidate or another.
Its purpose was simpler: create space for substantive discussion and trust South Dakotans to think for themselves.
The responses to TSDP Pulse #1 suggest that many viewers appreciated having that opportunity.
As the campaign continues, attention now shifts to the campaigns' latest FEC fundraising reports, additional guest opinions from across the political spectrum, and the August 4 withdrawal deadline.
Turn South Dakota Purple will continue creating opportunities for South Dakotans to engage with the ideas, decisions, and conversations shaping this election.
A note about the survey
TSDP Pulse #1 was conducted following the July 1, 2026 Beaudion-Bengs conversation. Responses were collected through a Google Form requiring one response per Google account, with one additional emailed submission accepted from a participant unable to access the form. This survey reflects the views of participating viewers and is not a scientific poll of South Dakota voters.
