Changes

|term_end=1976​

|term_end=1976​

|preceded=[[Sylvan Friedman]]​

|preceded=[[Sylvan Friedman]]​

|succeeded=Donald Gene Kelly​

|succeeded=[[Don Kelly|Donald Gene Kelly​]]

|office2=Louisiana State Representative for Natchitoches Parish<br>(one of two members)​

|office2=Louisiana State Representative for Natchitoches Parish<br>(one of two members)​

|term_start2=1960​

|term_start2=1960​

Eight years later, Foshee was elected to a single term in the state Senate when he unseated 20-year Democratic Senator [[Sylvan Friedman]], a pro-[[Earl Long|Long]] [[farmer]], [[cattle]]man, and large landowner from Natchez in south Natchitoches Parish (not to be confused with Natchez, [[Mississippi]]). After securing the pivotal Democratic nomination, Foshee then handily defeated in the [[general election]] held on February 1, 1972, the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Reese]], a businessman who later became chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Board of Election Supervisors and served on the Republican State Central Committee from 1968 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longdistancevoter.org/files/voter_forms/Louisiana_registrar_of_voters.pdf|title=Louisiana Parish Election Officials List|publisher=longdistancevoter.org|accessdate=September 26, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> Reese had earlier run for the Louisiana House from Jackson Parish,  having been defeated by future Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 6, 1968.</ref>​

Eight years later, Foshee was elected to a single term in the state Senate when he unseated 20-year Democratic Senator [[Sylvan Friedman]], a pro-[[Earl Long|Long]] [[farmer]], [[cattle]]man, and large landowner from Natchez in south Natchitoches Parish (not to be confused with Natchez, [[Mississippi]]). After securing the pivotal Democratic nomination, Foshee then handily defeated in the [[general election]] held on February 1, 1972, the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Bob Reese]], a businessman who later became chairman of the Natchitoches Parish Board of Election Supervisors and served on the Republican State Central Committee from 1968 to 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longdistancevoter.org/files/voter_forms/Louisiana_registrar_of_voters.pdf|title=Louisiana Parish Election Officials List|publisher=longdistancevoter.org|accessdate=September 26, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref> Reese had earlier run for the Louisiana House from Jackson Parish,  having been defeated by future Speaker [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, February 6, 1968.</ref>​

In the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in 1975, Foshee was unseated by his fellow Democrat, Donald Gene Kelly, a Natchitoches [[attorney]] and thoroughbred horse breeder originally from Coushatta in Red River Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref> In 1979, Foshee’s 23-year-old son, George Barnes "Barney" Foshee (1956–2000), failed in an attempt to unseat Kelly, who scored the second of his  five terms in the state Senate. In 1987, Foshee himself unsuccessfully challenged Kelly, 25,619 votes (62.5 percent) to 15,346 (37.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>​

In the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in 1975, Foshee was unseated by his fellow Democrat, [[Don Kelly]], a Natchitoches [[attorney]] and thoroughbred horse breeder originally from Coushatta in Red River Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref> In 1979, Foshee’s 23-year-old son, George Barnes "Barney" Foshee (1956–2000), failed in an attempt to unseat Kelly, who scored the second of his  five terms in the state Senate. In 1987, Foshee himself unsuccessfully challenged Kelly, 25,619 votes (62.5 percent) to 15,346 (37.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>​

Foshee considers himself to have been an independent "good government" type of legislator, concerned in particular about bills relating to insurance, reducing taxes, and removing from the state payroll, so-called "deadheads" or phantom employees who perform little or no actual work for their government checks. Though outgoing [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] supported Foshee's initial election to the House, Foshee considered himself neither "pro-Long" nor "anti-Long" within his state's then dominant Democratic Party.<ref name=statement/>​

Foshee considers himself to have been an independent "good government" type of legislator, concerned in particular about bills relating to insurance, reducing taxes, and removing from the state payroll, so-called "deadheads" or phantom employees who perform little or no actual work for their government checks. Though outgoing [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] supported Foshee's initial election to the House, Foshee considered himself neither "pro-Long" nor "anti-Long" within his state's then dominant Democratic Party.<ref name=statement/>​