Bill Foster

“As the only PhD physicist in Congress, I believe our policies should be guided by facts and evidence, and I'm committed to building an economy that works for everyone.”

Bill Foster is a scientist and businessman who has represented Illinois’ 11th Congressional District since 2013, after earlier serving the 14th District from 2008 to 2011. He is the only PhD physicist in Congress, bringing a data-driven approach to national policymaking.

Before entering public life, Foster spent more than two decades as a high-energy physicist at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, where he was part of the team that discovered the top quark and designed major particle accelerators. At age 19, he co-founded Electronic Theatre Controls with his brother, growing it into a leading manufacturer of theater lighting that today supplies much of the U.S. market.

In Congress, Foster serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he has championed consumer protections and helped shape post-recession reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Act. Deeply rooted in the Fox Valley region, he focuses on strengthening the economy, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and applying science and evidence to challenges from health care to technology.