Charles Bishop was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Alabama Senate The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, with each district conta ...

, representing the 5th District from 2006 to November 3, 2010. He did not seek re-election in 2010. The district covers portions of

Jefferson Jefferson may refer to: Names * Jefferson (surname) * Jefferson (given name) People * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States * Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...

Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population of 1 ...

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

and Winston counties. He was succeeded by fellow Republican

Greg Reed Greg Reed (born June 5, 1965) is an American politician. He serves as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 5th District since 2010. He defeated Democrat Brett Wadsworth in the 2010 midterm ...

Career

As a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, Bishop served in the Alabama State Senate from 1983 to 1991. He ran unsuccessfully for his party's nomination for governor in 1990 and 2002. He was elected as Commissioner of the

Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is an independent agency of the government of Alabama first created by an Act of the State Legislature on February 23, 1883. The Department is responsible for serving farmers and consum ...

for the term from 1999 to 2003. Bishop switched to the Republican Party before the election in 2006. Bishop made national news in June 2007 when he hit fellow Senator

Lowell Barron Lowell Ray Barron is a former Democratic politician, businessman who was a member of the Alabama Senate, and represented the 8th District from 1982 to 2010. He was elected President Pro Tem of the Alabama Senate from 1999 to 2007, and after havi ...

, a Democrat, while on the Senate floor. According to the ''

Birmingham News ''The Birmingham News'' is the principal newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States. The paper is owned by Advance Publications and was a daily newspaper from its founding through September 30, 2012. After that day, the ''News'' and its two ...

'' Bishop claims that Barron called him a "son of a bitch" while the Senate was in recess during an "animated conversation." Bishop was offended by this, as he said "Where I lived, if someone called you that, they are talking about your mother." Barron, in a Fox News report, denied saying that. He said Bishop had used an expletive to him and he was trying to get away when he was hit by Bishop on the side of the head near an ear. Bishop reported that he hit Barron with his right arm, hitting him anywhere. Patrick Harris, assistant secretary of the Senate, saw the attack and restrained Bishop. Videos of the punch can be found by searching for "Bishop's Bam in Bama." The Senate later considered censuring Bishop and expelling him from the chamber for the remainder of the day, but Bishop said that wasn't necessary and walked out of the Statehouse. Though a Senate Committee of Investigation was formed, no official action was taken. He lost his next primary. In 2008, Bishop gave a speech before the National Conference of the

Council of Conservative Citizens The Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC or CCC) is an American white supremacist organization. Founded in 1985, it advocates white nationalism, and supports some paleoconservative causes. In the organization's statement of principles, it st ...

, a white supremacist organization. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010.

References

External links

Alabama State Legislature - Senator Charles Bishop
official government website
Project Vote Smart - Senator Charles D. Bishop Sr. (AL)
profile *''Follow the Money'' - Charles Bishop
20062002
Senate campaign contributions
1998
Agriculture Commissioner campaign contributions Alabama Democrats Alabama Republicans Alabama state senators Alabama Commissioners of Agriculture and Industries People from Lee County, Arkansas Year of birth missing (living people) Living people {{Alabama-politician-stub