Dan Foreman
{{short description|American politician from Idaho}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dan Foreman
| image =
| alt =
| office = Idaho State Senator
| constituency = 6th district (2022–present)
| term_start = December 1, 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor = David Nelson
| successor =
| constituency1 = 5th district (2016–2018)
| term_start1 = December 1, 2016
| term_end1 = November 30, 2018
| predecessor1 = Dan Schmidt
| successor1 = David Nelson
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|9|20}}
| birth_place = Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| citizenship =
| nationality =
| party = Republican
| otherparty =
| spouse = Maria
| children = 7
| residence = Viola, Idaho, U.S.
| education = Bradley University (BS)
| occupation =
| branch = {{flag|United States Air Force}}
| rank = Colonel
}}
Daniel David Foreman III (born September 20, 1953) is an American politician who has served in the Idaho Senate since 2022, representing the 6th district. He previously served from 2016 to 2018 and represented the 5th district, which covers parts of Benewah and Latah counties.
Early life and education
Foreman was born in Lake Forest, Illinois to Daniel David Foreman Jr and Eileen Susan (McKeating) Foreman. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and administration from Bradley University in 1975.{{Cite web|title=Sen. Dan Foreman – Idaho State Legislature|url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/membership/2017/id4269/|access-date=February 1, 2021|language=en-US}}
Career
He served in the United States Air Force for 30 years and retired as a colonel. He later served as a police officer with the Moscow, Idaho Police Department. Foreman was elected to the Idaho Senate in 2016, narrowly defeating incumbent Democratic Senator Dan Schmidt.{{cite web|url=https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/net-losses-for-democrats-in-idaho-legislature/Content?oid=3928186|title=Election Results 2016: Net Losses for Democrats in Idaho Legislature|author=Prentice, George|newspaper=Boise Weekly|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=August 1, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://dnews.com/local/jordan-nilsson-troy-schmidt-ahead/article_31259c6c-a68f-11e6-9a1c-bbaa7710b5dd.html|title=Jordan, Nilsson Troy re-elected, Schmidt defeated|last1=Quinn|last2=Hager|first1=Shanon|first2=Tom|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=August 1, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2016/nov/09/another-upset-legislative-race-sen-schmidt-narrowly-losing-gop-challenger/|title=Another upset in a legislative race, as Sen. Schmidt apparently narrowly loses to GOP challenger|author=Russell, Betsy Z.|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=August 1, 2017}}
Foreman introduced several bills to the legislature during his first weeks in office, including one that would "classify abortion as first-degree murder — for the mother, as well as the doctor who performs the operation — except in cases where the mother’s life is endangered." He also introduced a bill that would reduce Idaho's sales tax from 6% to 5%, as well as two other tax bills.{{cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article125859554.html|title=Idaho lawmaker would charge women who have abortions with murder|author=Spence, William L.|newspaper=Idaho Statesman|date=January 11, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/more-idaho-gop-fireworks-senate-mulling-challenged-election-and-freshman-senator-wants-to-make-abortion-first-degree-murder/Content?oid=3962614|title=More Idaho GOP Fireworks: Senate Mulling Challenged Election and Freshman Senator Wants to Make Abortion First-Degree Murder|author=Prentice, George|newspaper=Boise Weekly|date=January 13, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2017}}
Foreman was defeated in the November 2018 elections, losing to Democrat David Nelson, receiving 8,777 votes to Nelson's 11,197 votes.{{Cite web|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2018/General/legislative_totals.html|title=Legislative Totals|website=sos.idaho.gov|access-date=January 25, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://dnews.com/nelson-takes-senate-seat/article_eab6b81c-e2b2-11e8-9ca5-97ce570acf51.html|title=Nelson takes Senate seat|date=November 7, 2018|website=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|language=en|access-date=January 25, 2020}}
He defeated Nelson in the 2022 election.{{cite web|url=https://www.lmtribune.com/northwest/dan-foreman-secures-win-over-sen-david-nelson/article_40539e71-6670-5a36-8252-ccabc94a8039.html|title=Dan Foreman secures win over Sen. David Nelson|accessdate=October 3, 2024|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune|author=William Spence|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20221110112502/https://www.lmtribune.com/northwest/dan-foreman-secures-win-over-sen-david-nelson/article_40539e71-6670-5a36-8252-ccabc94a8039.html|archivedate=November 10, 2022}}
Political views
Foreman has been a vocal critic of his own district, calling the area a "cesspool of liberalism".{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Betsy Z. |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Sen. Foreman calls his own county a 'cesspool of liberalism' |url=https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2018/apr/25/sen-foreman-calls-his-own-county-cesspool-liberalism/ |access-date=January 25, 2020 |website=The Spokesman-Review}} Foreman denies climate change, referring to it as a "scam".{{cite web |author=Russell, Betsy Z. |date=February 12, 2017 |title=Idaho Sen. Foreman says he thinks climate change is a liberal 'scam' |url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2017/feb/12/idaho-sen-foreman-says-he-thinks-climate-change-liberal-scam/ |access-date=August 1, 2017 |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review}}{{cite web |author=Spence, William L. |date=February 11, 2017 |title=Climate change is liberal 'scam,' according to GOP lawmaker |url=http://lmtribune.com/northwest/climate-change-is-liberal-scam-according-to-gop-lawmaker/article_0821a1da-8c5d-59ab-b9fa-4c91520933d7.html |access-date=August 1, 2017 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune}} He does not support the separation of church and state.{{cite web |author=Malloy |first=Chuck |date=March 15, 2017 |title=He might as well start constituent letters with, 'Dear Stupid' |url=http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/guest_opinions/he-might-as-well-start-constituent-letters-with-dear-stupid/article_692776a2-38c7-5963-ad29-dc8d75bc0eed.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316005728/http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/guest_opinions/he-might-as-well-start-constituent-letters-with-dear-stupid/article_692776a2-38c7-5963-ad29-dc8d75bc0eed.html |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=Idaho Press-Tribune }}
Foreman claimed to be the victim of an online identity-theft hoax when on February 20, 2018, State Senator Maryanne Jordan confirmed she had filed an ethics complaint against Foreman after an unverified Twitter account claiming to be owned by Foreman indicated that a group of students should discuss "killing babies" with her.{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2018 |title=GOP state senator in Idaho faces ethics complaint over tweet on abortion |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-state-senator-in-idaho-faces-ethics-complaint-over-tweet-on-abortion/ |access-date=January 25, 2020 |work=CBS News |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}} Foreman reportedly had been scheduled to meet with college students from the University of Idaho who were advocating for birth control and sex education. After cancelling the meeting at the last minute, Foreman was recorded yelling at the students as he passed them in the hallway, telling them, "abortion is murder".{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Idaho lawmaker not sorry for yelling 'abortion is murder' |url=https://apnews.com/2eb3238f825d4bf5ab51b9eef3426694 |access-date=January 25, 2020 |website=AP NEWS}}
Controversies
On October 1, 2024, among the seated candidates at a "meet the candidates" forum in Kendrick, Foreman reportedly stood up and interrupted Trish Carter-Goodheart, a Native American woman born in Idaho and running for the state legislature, who was responding in her turn to a question from the audience regarding discrimination. Including profanities, he shouted at her "go back where you came from" and denied that racism existed in Idaho before angrily leaving the forum that continued without him. He later wrote on Facebook, "I enlightened this person to the fact I was born in America, and I am therefore a native American. There was no racial slur in my statement".{{cite news |author=Luchetta, Julie |date=October 3, 2024 |title=Senator tells Native American candidate to go back to where she came from, storms out of public event |url=https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2024-10-03/dan-foreman-racism-idaho-nez-perce-candidate-kendrick |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=Boise State Public Radio}} Several attending the forum confirmed the report of the incident, including Foreman’s opponent who stated that she rose, confronted Foreman, and attempted to defuse his anger before he stormed out.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/idaho-racist-outburst-senator-candidate-forum-49d9e3c56b056d8406c35b914a121ae9|title=Idaho state senator tells Native American candidate 'go back where you came from' in forum|work=Associated Press|date=October 4, 2024}}
Personal life
Foreman and his wife, Maria, have 7 children and 20 grandchildren.{{cite web|url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/membership/2017/id4269/|title=Senator Dan Foreman (R)|publisher=Idaho Senate|access-date=August 1, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/173872/dan-foreman#.WYFLo63Mz6Y|title=Dan Foreman's Biography|publisher=Project VoteSmart|access-date=August 1, 2017}} Foreman is Catholic.{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2024 |title=Voters in North Idaho should put an end to this legislator's temper tantrums {{!}} Opinion |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/voters-north-idaho-put-end-225311579.html |access-date=October 4, 2024 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}
Electoral history
;2016
{{Election box begin no change | title=Latah County Sheriff Republican primary election, 2016{{cite web|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/Primary/County%20Abstracts%20Completed/Latah.xlsx|title= LATAH COUNTY RESULTS PRIMARY ELECTION|publisher=Idaho Secretary of State|access-date=September 29, 2023}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Richard (Richie) Skiles
|votes = 1,343
|percentage = 52.70
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 969
|percentage = 38.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Brian Strampher
|votes = 236
|percentage = 9.26
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 2,548
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 5 election, 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=814758|title=ID State Senate 05 2016|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=August 1, 2017}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 11,275
|percentage = 50.76
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Schmidt
|votes = 10,939
|percentage = 49.24
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 22,214
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2018
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 5, Republican primary election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://archive.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/2018/Primary/legislative_totals.html?_ga=2.113202048.587497130.1696477380-1494236848.1695313875&_gl=1*6mi3zb*_ga*MTQ5NDIzNjg0OC4xNjk1MzEzODc1*_ga_SN820FRG5P*MTY5NjQ3NzM3OS4yLjEuMTY5NjQ3ODQ0NC4wLjAuMA..|title=Legislative Tools|publisher=Idaho Secretary of State|access-date=October 4, 2023}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 2,180
|percentage = 51.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Marshall Comstock
|votes = 2,071
|percentage = 48.7
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 4,251
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 5 election, 2018}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = David Nelson
|votes = 11,197
|percentage = 56.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman (incumbent)
|votes = 8,777
|percentage = 43.9
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 19,974
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2020
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 5 Republican primary election, 2020}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 4,376
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 4,376
|percentage = 100.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 5 election, 2020}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = David Nelson (incumbent)
|votes = 12,691
|percentage = 50.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 12,471
|percentage = 49.6
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 25,162
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2022
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 6, Republican primary election, 2022}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 2,792
|percentage = 43.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Blair
|votes = 2,282
|percentage = 35.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jen Seegmiller
|votes = 1,391
|percentage = 21.5
}}{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 6,465
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 6 election, 2022}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 10,174
|percentage = 50.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = David Nelson (incumbent)
|votes = 9,746
|percentage = 48.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = James Hartley
|votes = 398
|percentage = 2.0
}}{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 20,318
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2024
{{Election box begin no change | title=Idaho Senate District 6, Republican primary election, 2024}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Foreman
|votes = 3,396
|percentage = 53.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Blair
|votes = 2,983
|percentage = 46.8
}}{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 6,379
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Idaho State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreman, Dan}}
Category:Bradley University alumni
Category:Republican Party Idaho state senators
Category:People from Latah County, Idaho
Category:United States Air Force colonels
Category:People from Lake Forest, Illinois
Category:Military personnel from Illinois