Sanford Bishop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sanford Bishop
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 2nd district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Hatcher |
| Member of the Georgia Senate from the 15th district |
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| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Gary Parker |
| Succeeded by | Ed Harbison |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 94th district |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | C. Ed Berry |
| Succeeded by | Bill Lee |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sanford Dixon Bishop Jr.
February 4, 1947 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Vivian Creighton |
| Children | 1 |
| Residences | Albany, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Emory University (JD) |
| Website | House website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1968–1971 |
Sanford Dixon Bishop Jr. (born February 4, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician. He serves as a U.S. Representative for Georgia's 2nd district. He has held this position since 1993.
After the death of John Lewis, Bishop became the most senior member of Georgia's group of representatives. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is also part of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats. His district covers southwestern Georgia, including cities like Albany, Thomasville, and parts of Columbus and Macon.
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Early Life and Education
Sanford Bishop was born in Mobile, Alabama. His father, Sanford Dixon Bishop, was the first president of Bishop State Community College.
College and Law School
Bishop earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Morehouse College in 1968. He studied political science and English. In 1971, he received a law degree (Juris Doctor or J.D.) from Emory University School of Law.
Military Service and Legal Career
From 1969 to 1971, Bishop served in the United States Army. After his military service, he opened his own law firm in Columbus, Georgia.
Community Involvement
Bishop is an Eagle Scout and has received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. This award is given to Eagle Scouts who have achieved great things in their careers. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow (OA).
He lives in Albany, Georgia, and is a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church. Bishop is also a Life Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He is a Shriner and a 33° Mason.
Bishop is married to Vivian Creighton. She served as the Municipal Clerk of Columbus from 1993 to 2021.
Political Journey in Georgia
Sanford Bishop began his political career in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was first elected in 1977. He served there until 1990. In 1990, he was elected to the Georgia Senate.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
After serving only one term in the state senate, Bishop decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Getting Elected to Congress
In 1992, Bishop ran for the 2nd congressional district. The district had been redrawn to have more African-American voters. He won the Democratic primary against the current representative, Charles Hatcher. Bishop then won the general election against Republican Jim Dudley.
He has been re-elected many times since then. Even when his district was redrawn to have more white voters in 1996, he still won. In 2010, he won by a very close margin. After new district changes in 2012, his district again became a majority-Black district. This made it easier for him to win future elections.
Key Roles and Actions
Bishop is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is also part of the Blue Dog Democrats. This group includes moderate to conservative Democrats in the House. He is known for working with members of both political parties.
Because his district is largely agricultural, Bishop has worked to support farmers. He has helped protect federal programs that support peanut farmers. Peanuts are a very important crop in southwest Georgia.
In 1997, Bishop supported a bill to add a constitutional amendment. This amendment aimed to protect religious expression on public property, including schools.
In 2002, Bishop was one of only four African-American members of Congress to vote for the resolution that allowed the Iraq War.
In 2007, Bishop supported Barack Obama for president. He helped lead Obama's campaign in Georgia. His wife, Vivian Creighton Bishop, supported Hillary Clinton.
Bishop serves on the Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money. He is the top Democrat (Ranking Member) on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.
In 2023, Bishop voted to provide funding to Israel during the Gaza-Israel conflict.
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Committee Assignments
For the current 118th Congress, Bishop serves on these committees:
- Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Caucus Memberships
Bishop is also a member of several caucuses (groups of lawmakers who share interests):
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Blue Dog Coalition
- Congressional Diabetes Caucus
- International Conservation Caucus
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Congressional Cement Caucus
- Rare Disease Caucus
- U.S.-Japan Caucus
Honors and Awards
In 2015, Bishop was appointed as a Member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. This honor was given by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
See also
