Murphy J. "Mike" Foster, Jr. (born 11 July, 1930 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a Louisiana politician. He was Governor of Louisiana, being elected to two four year terms in 1995 and 1999, serving from January of 1996 to 11 January 2004. His grandfather, Murphy J. Foster, was Louisiana governor in the late 19th century.

In his 1995 campaign for governor, Foster paid more than $150,000 for David Duke's mailing list of supporters. Foster became the first Louisiana governor to admit a violation of the state's ethics code and pay a fine - for failing to report the purchase as a campaign expenditure. Foster believed he did not need to report the expenditure, since he paid with his personal funds and never actually used the list in the campaign. (La. Campaign Finance Opinion No. 99-630)

Foster initially supported Duke's run for the Senate in 1996, but under pressure failed to officially endorse him.

Foster was the Louisiana campaign chairman for George W. Bush in 2000.

Foster is a member of the Republican Party.

Foster was succeeded as governor by Kathleen Blanco.

External links

• Biography on sec.state.la.us