South Dakota Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion dropped out of the race Tuesday, a move that comes following heightened pressure from within the party to clear the way for a stronger independent candidate, according to paperwork filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office.

Beaudion’s decision comes on the same day as the deadline to withdraw, and just days after he told POLITICO he was not going to leave the race. Now, independent Brian Bengs will face a one-on-one battle with Republican Sen. Mike Rounds in November.

In a statement, Beaudion likened his decision to the failed Apollo 13 mission to the moon.

“It is with a tremendous amount of gratitude to everyone who has supported our campaign mission and a great amount of sorrow, that I say, ‘Houston, we have a problem,’” he wrote.

Beaudion is the third Democrat in a deep-red Senate race who has left in order to give independents — who have polled better and raised more money — a better shot at defeating Republicans. Already, Democrats in Idaho and Nebraska have dropped out and endorsed independents.

But Montana Democrat Alani Bankhead has steadfastly insisted she will not suspend her campaign for the better-funded independent Seth Bodnar in what otherwise could be the best shot for an independent candidate to knock off a red-state Republican this fall.

Bengs, a former Democrat who was crushed by Majority Leader John Thune when he ran for Senate in 2022, has touted internal polling showing a competitive race with Rounds — but only if Beaudion exited.

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