Tom Foley (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick "Tom" Foley (born December 31, 1953 in Philadelphia) is a Democratic
politician from Pennsylvania
.
. He attended Dartmouth College
and received a law degree from Yale University
.
, Foley became a congressional aide, with included a tenure of employment under future Vice President Joe Biden
. He served in the cabinet of Governor Bob Casey
as Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry from 1991 to 1995. In 1994, he won an eight-way primary to become the nominee for state lieutenant governor, on a ticket with Mark Singel
; Democrats lost the election by just over 3 percentage points. Foley ran for state auditor general in 1996 and, despite being the party's endorsed candidate, lost the Democratic primary to Bob Casey, Jr.
, the son of the former governor, by less than one percentage point. In 2000
, Foley unsuccessfully challenged Ron Klink
for the Democratic nomination for US Senate. Klink went on to lose to incumbent Rick Santorum
in that November's election.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life
Foley grew up in a working class family the Philadelphia suburb of FlourtownFlourtown, Pennsylvania
Flourtown is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a ZIP code of 19031. Flourtown is adjacent to the Philadelphia neighborhoods of West Oak Lane, Mt. Airy, and Chestnut Hill...
. He attended Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and received a law degree from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Political career
After spending two years working with an NGO in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Foley became a congressional aide, with included a tenure of employment under future Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
. He served in the cabinet of Governor Bob Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
as Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry from 1991 to 1995. In 1994, he won an eight-way primary to become the nominee for state lieutenant governor, on a ticket with Mark Singel
Mark Singel
Mark Stephen Singel served as the Democratic lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey He was acting governor from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis and subsequent multiple organ transplant.A graduate of Pennsylvania...
; Democrats lost the election by just over 3 percentage points. Foley ran for state auditor general in 1996 and, despite being the party's endorsed candidate, lost the Democratic primary to Bob Casey, Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr.
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Jr. is the senior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Pennsylvania Treasurer, and Pennsylvania Auditor General. He is the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr..He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in...
, the son of the former governor, by less than one percentage point. In 2000
United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2000
The 2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum won re-election to a second term.-Campaign:...
, Foley unsuccessfully challenged Ron Klink
Ron Klink
Ronald "Ron" Klink is a Democratic politician and former United States Representative from Pennsylvania.Klink was born in Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Meyersdale High School in Pennsylvania in 1969. Klink originally worked behind the scenes at WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pennsylvania...
for the Democratic nomination for US Senate. Klink went on to lose to incumbent Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
in that November's election.