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Bill Foster (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He assumed office in 2013. His current term ends on January 3, 2021.
Foster is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 17, 2020.
At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Foster was assigned to the Committee on Financial Services.
Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Foster is an average Democratic member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Democratic Party on the majority of bills.
Foster graduated from the University of Wisconsin and received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University. His career experience includes working as a physicist and business owner.
Below is an abbreviated outline of Foster's academic, professional, and political career:
Former Member, Environment Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Democratic Co-Chair, House Research & Development Caucus
Co-Founder, Inventions Caucus
Former Member, Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Space Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, United States House of Representatives
Former Member, Terrorism and Illicit Finance Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives
Member, Financial Services
Member, Science, Space, and Technology
Member, Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises
Member, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions
Member, Subcommittee on Energy
Member, Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets
Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Member, Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing
— Awards:
1998 -- Elected Fellow, American Physical Society
1989 -- Rossi Prize for Cosmic Ray Physics
1999 -- IEEE/NPSS Particle Accelerator Science and Technology Award
1998 -- Federal Energy and Water Management Award (Dept. of Energy)
1999 -- Fermilab Technology Award for Digital Photomultiplier Integrated Circuit
— Father's Occupation:
Favorite Quote:
"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America."
Some scientist may at last disperse
Favorite Type of Music:
Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the music my children make me listen to on car trips
— Mother's Occupation:
Spouse's Occupation:
Bill's wife Aesook spent her professional career managing construction and operation of large scientific facilities. After 16 years of research at Fermilab, she worked for the Office of Science in the Department of Energy managing its national program for 5 years. Since 2008, she has been managing construction of the next generation light source facility located in Long Island, NY. Over the last 5 years, she has commuted to the construction site on Long Island every week while making sure to maximize their time together at home in Illinois
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
- No
Do you support increasing defense spending?
- No
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
3. Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Unknown Position
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
2. Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
- Yes
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- Unknown Position
2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Yes
Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes
1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Yes
1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No
2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Unknown Position
1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No
2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No
Latest Action: House - 06/20/2019 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 06/20/2019 Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 06/14/2019 Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Tracker:
The primary will occur on March 17, 2020. The general election will occur on November 3, 2020. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Incumbent Bill Foster and Rachel Ventura are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 17, 2020.
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Bill Foster (D) |
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Rachel Ventura (D) |
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Krishna Bansal and Rick Laib are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 17, 2020.
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Krishna Bansal (R) |
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Rick Laib (R) |
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Incumbent Bill Foster (D) defeated Nick Stella (R) in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 6, 2018.
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Bill Foster (D) |
63.8%
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145,407 Votes✔ |
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Nick Stella (R) |
36.2%
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82,358 Votes |
Total votes: 227,765
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Incumbent Bill Foster advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 20, 2018.
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Bill Foster (D) |
100%
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49,762 Votes✔ |
Total votes: 49,762
Nick Stella defeated Connor Vlakancic in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 20, 2018.
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Nick Stella (R) |
79.3%
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23,992 Votes✔ |
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Connor Vlakancic (R) |
20.7%
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6,253 Votes |
Total votes: 30,245
rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Bill Foster (D) defeated Tonia Khouri (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Foster ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 15, 2016, while Tonia Khouri defeated Nick Stella and Herman White to win the Republican nomination.
U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Bill Foster Incumbent |
60.4% | 166,578 |
| Republican | Tonia Khouri | 39.6% | 108,995 |
| Total Votes | 275,573 | ||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections | |||
U.S. House, Illinois District 11 Republican Primary, 2016
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tonia Khouri |
36.9% | 22,859 | ||
| Nick Stella | 36.3% | 22,489 | ||
| Herman White | 26.7% | 16,536 | ||
| Total Votes | 61,884 | |||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections |
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Foster ran for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 18, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Foster Incumbent |
53.5% | 93,436 |
| Republican | Darlene Senger | 46.5% | 81,335 |
| Total Votes | 174,771 | ||
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections Official Results | |||
Foster defeated Republican candidate Judy Biggert for the open seat. Foster ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 11th District. Foster ran on the Democratic ticket.
Foster defeated candidates James Hickey and Juan Thomas in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2012. Judy Biggert ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Foster defeated Biggert in the general election on November 6, 2012.
U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Foster |
58.6% | 148,928 |
| Republican | Judy Biggert Incumbent | 41.4% | 105,348 |
| Total Votes | 254,276 | ||
| Source: Illinois Board of Elections "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals" | |||
U.S. House, Illinois District 11 Democratic Primary, 2012
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Bill Foster |
58.5% | 12,126 |
| Juan Thomas | 25.1% | 5,212 |
| Jim Hickey | 16.4% | 3,399 |
| Total Votes | 20,737 | |
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Randy Hultgren won election to the United States House. He defeated Bill Foster (D), Daniel J. Kairis (G) and Doug Marks (I) in the general election. U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2010
2008 On November 4, 2008, Bill Foster won election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Oberweis in the general election. U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2008
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Tue 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT
