Sanford Dixon Bishop

Democrat Representative of Georgia's 2nd district

Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 5, 1993 - January 3, 1995
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 4, 1995 - January 3, 1997
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 7, 1997 - January 3, 1999
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 6, 1999 - January 3, 2001
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2001 - January 3, 2003
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 7, 2003 - January 3, 2005
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2007
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 4, 2007 - January 3, 2009
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 6, 2009 - January 3, 2011
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2013
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Representative
Georgia, district 2
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

202-225-3631

@SanfordBishop

bishop.house.gov

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Congresses Served

House Terms

February 4, 1947 (78 years old)

Birthday

Has been serving as the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 2nd congressional district since 1993
Became the dean of Georgia’s congressional delegation following John Lewis’s death
Member of the Blue Dog Coalition, representing the conservative faction of the Democratic Party
Born in Mobile, Alabama, and is the son of the first president of Bishop State Community College
Holds a B.A. degree from Morehouse College and a J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law
Served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971
Operated a law firm in Columbus, Georgia, before entering politics
Has received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and is a member of the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow
Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a 33° Mason
Married to Vivian Creighton Bishop, who served as Municipal Clerk of Columbus from 1993 to 2021
Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1977 and the Georgia Senate in 1990
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, defeating an incumbent in a primary runoff
Has been reelected multiple times, including winning reelection in a redrawn district that was majority white in 1996
Known for bipartisan efforts, ranked as the 16th most bipartisan member of the 114th Congress
Votes in line with President Joe Biden’s position 100% of the time as of 2022
Advocates for agricultural interests, particularly federal price supports for peanuts
Co-sponsored a bill to introduce a constitutional amendment to protect religious expression on public property
Voted for the joint resolution authorizing the Iraq War in 2002
Endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2007 and co-chaired the Georgia for Obama campaign
Chairs the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Involved in a controversy over directing scholarships to ineligible persons, including family members, from funds intended for the Congressional Black Caucus
Acknowledged awareness of fraud in a settlement program for black farmers but noted anti-fraud provisions in the settlement
Alleged to have misused over $90,000 of campaign funds for personal expenses, leading to an investigation by the House Ethics Committee
Holds committee assignments in the Agriculture Committee and the Appropriations Committee, among others
Member of several caucuses including the Congressional Black Caucus and the Blue Dog Coalition