US Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota fends off Republican primary challenger

By: South Dakota Searchlight staff

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: June 3, 2026

Words: 182

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Partial Tuesday night election returns showed U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, on a path to win his party’s nomination to seek reelection.

The 71-year-old Rounds, of Fort Pierre, is finishing his second six-year term in the Senate after previously serving eight years as governor.

His opponent, Rapid City businessman Justin McNeal, did not mount a prominent campaign.

With 69 of 686 precincts across the state fully reporting at about 8:30 p.m. Central, returns …

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