In the Idaho State Senate, Idahoans elect legislators in their district for two-year terms. The University of Idaho and Moscow are in District 6, which covers the entirety of Latah and Lewis counties and a portion of Nez Perce county. The state senate race is between two-term incumbent Dan Foreman and Robin Weldy.
Dan Foreman is the Republican candidate. Currently age 73, he has represented District 6 since 2022, previously representing District 5 (then containing the Latah area) from 2016–2018. Born in Illinois, Foreman graduated in 1975 from Bradley University in Peoria with a B.S. in Business Management and Administration and was once an amateur radio operator. He served in the Air Force for three decades, retiring as a colonel before serving as an officer in the Moscow Police Department for 11 years. Foreman does not have a campaign website.
Foreman describes himself as a fiscal conservative and “absolutely pro-life,” with it being one of his most referenced positions. He believes the size of government should be shrank to decrease taxes and increase efficiency. Foreman is also a member of the National Rifle Association and has voiced doubts about the legality of quarantine and vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On public lands, Foreman said, “the State of Idaho does a better job of managing forest land than does the federal government.” He has been subject to various controversies — including a continuing conflict with students at the University of Idaho— with one reported 2018 incident of him shouting “abortion is murder” at a group of UI students who traveled to Boise to meet with him regarding a measure on the prescribing of birth control. He has also voted against several appropriations that provided funding for UI and described Latah County, particularly the university area as a cesspool of liberalism.
His opponent is the 60-year-old Democrat Robin Weldy. Born and raised in Lewiston, Weldy also lived in Puerto Rico for over eight years at one point, and describes herself as bilingual in Spanish. She has also lived in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and worked 25 years in real estate and asset management, owning a business. Weldy graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. She moved back to Lewiston at the start of the decade to retire with family and currently describes herself as “semi-retired,” Weldy has a campaign website at weldyforidaho.com.
Weldy has focused on her business experience in this election, with her statement describing herself as bringing “collaborative leadership and practical solutions.” She is pro-choice, supports Prop 1 and said that Idaho is “in a medical emergency” due to a crisis in affordability and autonomy. She supports the repeal of the private education tax credit that stirred controversy last year and promotes redirecting funds to public schools. Weldy has also focused on Idaho land, stating her desire to protect public lands and stance against hosting further nuclear waste and fuel in the state — Idaho has been recently selected as a finalist to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. She opposes “indiscriminate” budget cuts, stating “I know you cannot cut your way to long-term prosperity.”
David Galindo can be reached at [email protected]
