Red Dawn Foster

Early life and education

Red Dawn Foster graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Colorado Denver and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the Oglala Sioux and Navajo tribes.

Political career

South Dakota State Legislature Elections

In 2016, Foster ran alongside state Senator Jim Bradford for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 27th district. However, in the general election she and Bradford lost to Republican nominees Liz May and Steve Livermont.

In the 2018 Democratic Primary, Red Dawn Foster ran against James Bradford and won 55.6% of the vote. In the general election, Foster ran against Republican Bill Hines and won 58.6% of the votes.

In 2020, she ran against Republican Judd Schomp in the general election, winning 56.3% of the votes. In the 2021-2022 legislative session, Foster served on the Commerce and Energy, Health and Human Services, and Local Government committees. In 2022, Foster also served on the Ag. Land Assessment Task Force, Rules Review, State-Tribal Relations and Study on Juvenile Justice interim committees.

Sponsored Bills and Political Positions (2022 Session)

Native American Rights Foster has spent her career advocating for the rights of Native American people in South Dakota and has sponsored a number of bills aimed at recognizing the achievements of Indigenous people as well as bills aimed at providing Native Americans the right to hunt, fish, and visit state parks free of licenses and fees. A controversial topic in South Dakota, Foster advocates for the inclusion of Native American History in South Dakota curriculum. +BillTitleSD HB 1171revise provisions related to missing childrenSD HB 1194make an appropriation to the Office of Attorney General to temporarily fund a position within the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, and to declare an emergency.SD HB1264make an appropriation for the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Office, and to declare an emergency.

Medicaid Expansion The expansion of Medicaid and Medicare programs are a heavily discussed topic in many states, and Foster is a strong advocate for the expansion of these programs in South Dakota. threatened to take legal action against the tribes, accusing them of breaking the law. The tribes combatted the threats with arguments that the checkpoints were legally instituted because the tribes are sovereign nations. Senator Red Dawn Foster stood with the tribes in criticizing the governor's lack of action and threats against tribes, stating that the Coronavirus was "a matter of life and death on a reservation.".