The Kind of Senator I Want to Be

I spent my life in the military. Growing up, my father was a union machinist, and my mother a waitress, which taught me the value of hard work and standing up for what you believe in. I am also a student of history, pursuing a Master’s degree through night classes during an Air Force assignment in Louisiana. Everything I am is built upon a foundation laid by those who came before me, and I see it as my responsibility to continue building.

I want to be a Senator who fights for regular people. A Senator who is always fighting to uphold the values that were first declared 250 years ago. “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Over my life, I’ve sworn many oaths to the Constitution. When elected South Dakota’s Independent Senator, I will swear another. One of the fundamental elements of the Constitution I have sworn and will swear again to defend is those first three words, “We the People.”

Looking back to history, there are many figures I hope to emulate. None of them are perfect, but it is with the hindsight of history that I may bring their best qualities with me.

Two of them are carved into a mountain in South Dakota, about an hour north of my home. George Washington warned against how a system of political parties may “subvert the power of the people.” I am an Independent because I see our political systems today gridlocked by the confluence of partisanship, the influence of Big Money, and power. I want to break that confluence, so that power is held by the American people.

The polling shows that this race is neck-and-neck, My opponent won’t debate me and he won’t hold public town halls, because he thinks he can coast to reelection. We’re going to prove him wrong. If you can chip in to support the campaign today, it will ensure that South Dakotans hear my name and message, and choose a different option this November. Thank you.

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Another president carved into the mountainside is Theodore Roosevelt. I want to emulate his priorities of getting money out of politics, breaking up corporate monopolies, and protecting public lands. A quote of his describes how and why I’m running for U.S. Senate in the first place: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

In more recent history, there are many elements of President Eisenhower I’d like to model. He understood the importance of fighting for and upholding individual rights, protecting Social Security, guarding our politics against the growing influence of the military-industrial complex, and building teams that can deliver results.

That last one is something the military taught me. In 1954, Eisenhower said, “You have got to have something in which to believe. You have got to have leaders, organization, friendships, and contacts that help you to believe that, and help you to put out your best.” I’m striving to achieve great change, but I’m not so naïve as to think I can do it alone. What I can do is make sure everyone has a seat at the decision-making table, so we can achieve our best together.

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No one believes in the potential of the American promise more than I do, because I have lived it. I was a kid from a small town in rural America, and I got to see the world, do things I never could’ve imagined, and build a life for my family. I got the opportunity to raise two hard-working and successful daughters, and I can already tell they will surpass me in their endeavors.

Now, I’m even running for the U.S. Senate to try and protect the American Dream I was lucky enough to experience, so that millions of other families may experience it as well.

That’s the U.S. Senator I want to be for South Dakota. A fighter, a listener, and a protector. A fighter for South Dakotan ranchers, farmers, and workers. A listener to South Dakotans’ hardships, issues, and their ideas for solutions. A protector of the American way of life, the principles it is founded upon, and of regular people who see it getting further out of reach.

We will achieve great things. I can’t do it alone, but fortunately, I won’t have to. This is a movement, and it’s growing bigger by the day. We may walk on the shoulders of giants who came before us, but we cannot forget that we hold great power. We are giants, too.

Thank you for reading.

Brian L. Bengs, Lt Col (Ret)

Independent Candidate for U.S. Senate

We’re just a few weeks away from the election. Polling shows this race is neck-and-neck, and to win this we need to build a strong lead. To do that, I need your help to ensure that my name and message reaches South Dakotans all over the state. If you can chip in $30 today, it will be instrumental to making that happen. Thank you.

Chip in to the campaign here