Red Dawn Foster
South Dakota State Senator, District 27 since 2018. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 15
- 46 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 12.2%
- Chamber median 0.8%
- With party
- 49%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +3.9
- Won 2024
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations
- Appropriations
- Government Operations and Audit
- Government Operations and Audit
- Retirement Laws
- Retirement Laws
- State-Tribal Relations
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Indian Tribes · Became law Mar 2026
Criminal Background Investigation · Became law Mar 2026
Eminent Domain · Became law Mar 2026
Attorney's Fees · Became law Mar 2026
Crimes · Became law Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Foster sits in the South Dakota State Senate
Foster is closer to the center than 0% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Carl Perry, Arch Beal, Tamara Grove
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Foster’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats49%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the South Dakota State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Foster’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Foster | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 | HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 20–14 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 19–15 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | HB 1138: require the licensure of non-medical home care agencies, and to provide a penalty therefor. | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 20–14 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | HB 1263: eliminate an exclusion from the definition of an agricultural equipment dealer. | No | No | Yes | Passed 28–6 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | HB 1313: require education in prenatal human growth and development. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 31–3 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Foster was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | South Dakota State Senate, District 27 | Won | D+3.9 |
| 2022 | South Dakota State Senate, District 27 | Won | D+2.9 |
| 2020 | South Dakota State Senate, District 27 | Won | D+12.5 |
| 2018 | South Dakota State Senate, District 27 | Won | D+17.1 |
| 2016 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Lost | R+2.6 |
| 2006 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Lost | R+21.1 |
| 2000 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4 | Lost | R+10.2 |
| 1996 | South Dakota State Senate, District 4 | Lost | R+18.2 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Foster has held
- South Dakota State Senate, District 27 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Foster has run against
- Anthony G. Kathol (R) · 2024 general, won
- David Jones (R) · 2022 general, won
- Judd W. Schomp (R) · 2020 general, won
- Bill Hines (R) · 2018 general, won
- Elizabeth May (R) · 2016 general, lost
- Brock L. Greenfield (R) · 2006 general, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Foster
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/d2b91681-6a72-42f8-94f6-c489309798b7
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET