South Dakota Democrat exits Senate race, clears way for independent

Julian Beaudion, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in South Dakota, has officially dropped out of the race. Beaudion is the third Democrat to exit after facing party pressure to step aside for a more promising independent candidate. Having won the Democratic nomination in June, his withdrawal leaves GOP Senator Mike Rounds facing an independent challenger in the upcoming November election, effectively shifting the competitive landscape of the South Dakota Senate race.