Ranchers Say Trump’s Beef Imports Have GOP Senator Mike Rounds ‘Treading Water’ In South Dakota

President Donald Trump’s foreign beef imports have backfired on Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds’ reelection campaign, South Dakota cattle ranchers told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Rounds faces a competitive race against independent South Dakota Senate candidate Brian Bengs in a state that Trump won by nearly 30 points in 2024. South Dakota ranchers told the DCNF that Trump’s import of 300,000 metric tons of foreign-raised beef and high prices weren’t helping their business, with one arguing that Rounds is paying the price over his association with Trump.

Many polls showed Rounds holding a single-digit lead in a state where Republicans tend to win by landslides.

Doug Sombke, the president of the South Dakota Farmer’s Union, told the DCNF that ranchers were frustrated with Trump’s beef policies.

“[South Dakota ranchers are] just really tired of the lies,” Sombke told the DCNF. “That’s really the biggest thing. I mean, and [Trump] just does what he wants. He doesn’t listen to Congress, he doesn’t listen to judges. He appeals and appeals and appeals, and it’s done nothing but make things more expensive for all of us.”

Trump said on Aug. 21 he would allow 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported from foreign countries into the U.S. for 90 days. He claimed the imports would lower prices for Americans and address the supply shortage for the domestic herd, which fell to its lowest levels in 75 years.

“President Trump has done more for American agriculture than anyone by negotiating new trade deals, expanding foreign market access, lowering input costs, bolstering the farm safety net, doubling the death tax exemption, ending taxes on rural property loan interest, creating rural opportunity zones, and more,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the DCNF. “At the same time, he is delivering on his promise to consumers by reducing beef prices while allowing our American beef herd to grow. The President will continue taking actions to support our great farmers while driving economic prosperity for all Americans.”

Sombke said that while Rounds backed ranchers in the state on the beef imports, his association has made his candidacy vulnerable. The Republican senator removed Trump’s name and any mention of the president’s endorsement from his campaign website weeks before Election Day.

“Mike has defended our position on the beef policy, he spoke out against it,” Sombke said. “But Mike is treading water pretty hard right now. He’s got a big challenger, and you know, his association with Trump is not good. Matter of fact, Mike took off his website that Trump endorsed him.”