Red Dawn Foster is a Democratic member of the South Dakota Senate, representing District 27, which includes the Pine Ridge area. She has served as Assistant Minority Leader since assuming office on January 8, 2019, and remains the incumbent as of the latest records. Notable achievements include her successful elections in 2018 , 2020 , and 2022 , after an unsuccessful 2016 House bid. She advocates strongly for Native American rights, sponsoring bills for free hunting, fishing, and park access for Indigenous people, recognition of their achievements, and inclusion of Native American history in state curricula. Foster also pushes for Medicaid and Medicare expansion in South Dakota. She serves on key committees including Appropriations, Government Operations and Audit, Retirement Laws, Joint Appropriations, Revenue Projection Subcommittee, and Legislative Relationships with Ellsworth Air Force Base Select. She has one child.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Arts from University of Colorado Denver; Master of Business Administration from University of Notre Dame.
• Political Experience: Elected to South Dakota Senate District 27 in 2018; re-elected in 2020 and 2022. Previously ran unsuccessfully for South Dakota House District 27 in 2016. Current roles include Assistant Minority Leader and multiple committee assignments focused on appropriations, audits, and government operations.