Turn SD Purple live-streaming ‘conversation-style’ debate between Beaudion, Bengs
It will be live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and TurnSDPurple.com on Wednesday, July 1, at 8 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. MDT
For the first time in South Dakota’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, both of Sen. Mike Rounds’ challengers will appear together for a side-by-side conversation.
Democratic nominee Julian Beaudion and Independent candidate Brian Bengs are scheduled to join Turn SD Purple on Wednesday, July 1, for a long-form discussion about the issues facing South Dakota, their priorities, and why each believes they should represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
The event is not being framed as a traditional debate. Instead of short responses and rapid exchanges, the conversation is designed to give both candidates time to explain their positions in greater depth, respond to one another, and answer questions from Turn South Dakota Purple and its community.
The discussion is set to premiere at 8 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. MDT and will be available on Facebook, YouTube, and TurnSDPurple.com.
Both Beaudion and Bengs are challenging Rounds as South Dakota voters begin to look ahead to the 2026 Senate race. Their joint appearance gives voters an early opportunity to compare how each candidate approaches the state’s major political, economic, and civic issues outside the format of a standard campaign forum.
