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'{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Dan Bishop |image = DanBishopNC2019.jpeg |alt = Portrait of Dan Bishop |state_senate = North Carolina |district = 39th |term_start = January 2017 |term_end = |predecessor = [[Bob Rucho]] |successor = |state_house1 = North Carolina |district1 = 104th |term_start1 = January 2015 |term_end1 = January 2017 |predecessor1 = [[Ruth Samuelson]] |successor1 = [[Andy Dulin]] |office2 = Member of the [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]] [[County commission|Commission]] from the 5th district |term_start2 = January 2005 |term_end2 = January 2009 |predecessor2 = Ruth Samuelson<ref name="RaceID291873">https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=291873</ref> |successor2 = Neil Cooksey<ref name="RaceID450485">https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=450485</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|7|1}} |birth_place = [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]], U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |spouse = Jo Bishop |children = 1 |education = [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]]) }} '''James Daniel Bishop''' (born July 1, 1964)<ref>{{cite web |title=2006-2008 Board of County Commissioners |publisher=Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners |url=https://www.mecknc.gov/CountyManagersOffice/BOCC/Documents/BOCCbiosheet.pdf |accessdate=February 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=WRo8AQAAIAAJ&dq=martindale+hubbell+%22daniel+bishop%22+north+carolina&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22Bishop%2C+J.+Daniel%22 |title=The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.ca |accessdate=February 21, 2019}}</ref> is an American attorney and politician serving in the [[North Carolina Senate|North Carolina State Senate]] since 2017. A [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], his district is located in south-central [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]]. He previously served in the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]] from 2015 to 2017, and the Mecklenburg County Commission from 2005 to 2009. Bishop is a candidate for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in a [[2019 North Carolina's 9th congressional district special election|2019 special election]]. Bishop is best known as a [[LGBT rights opposition|strong opponent]] of [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/north-carolina-house/nc-09-republicans-risk-special-election-loss-critical-2020|title=NC-09: Republicans Risk Special Election Loss in Critical 2020 State|last=Staff|first=|date=September 6, 2019|website=The Cook Political Report|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=September 8, 2019|quote=In May, Republican voters chose Bishop, an attorney best known for sponsoring North Carolina's so-called "bathroom bill," as their new nominee.}}</ref> Comparing LGBT activists to the [[Taliban]],<ref name=":1" /> he was the lead writer of North Carolina's so-called "[[Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act|bathroom bill]]" which prohibited transgender individuals from using public restrooms other than those by their biological sex as defined on their birth certificates.<ref name=":0" /> The bill was signed into law. It stirred a substantial public backlash, and analysts estimated it cost the state of [[North Carolina]] $3.7 billion. It was subsequently overruled by a federal judge in [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]] in a ruling affirmed by the [[United States Supreme Court]]. ==Education== Bishop received a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in business administration from the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in 1986 and a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] in 1990 from the [[University of North Carolina School of Law]] in 1990.<ref name="2016Bishop">[https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article109087327.html NC Senate District 39: Dan Bishop faces Lloyd Scher], ''Charlotte Observer'' (October 18, 2016).</ref> ==Political career== ===County Commission and state House=== Bishop was a member of the [[Mecklenburg County Commission]] from 2004 to 2008. After a six-year absence from politics, he was elected to the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]] from a south Charlotte seat for a single term (2015-2017), running against a Libertarian opponent, Eric Cable, but without a Democratic one.<ref name="Clasen-Kelly">Fred Clasen-Kelly, [https://www.heraldonline.com/latest-news/article11581907.html NC House District 104: Former county commissioner re-emerges as leader for state House seat], ''Charlotte Observer'' (November 4, 2014).</ref> Bishop's district was House District 104.<ref name="2016Bishop"/> He succeeded [[Ruth Samuelson]], who retired from the House.<ref name="Clasen-Kelly"/> ===State Senate=== Bishop won his current [[North Carolina State Senate]] District 39 seat in November 2016 to succeed [[Robert A. Rucho|Bob Rucho]] who was not seeking re-election. He received 58,739 votes (56.81%), defeating Democrat Lloyd Scher, who received 44,655 (43.19%).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2016&county_id=0&office=NCS&contest=0 | title = 11/08/2016 General Election Results | date = 8 November 2016 | publisher = North Carolina State Board of Elections | location = Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> During the 2017-2018 legislative session, Bishop was the co-chairman of the Select Committee on Judicial Reform and Redistricting, the vice-chairman of the Select Committee on Elections, and a member of several additional committees.<ref>[https://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/reports/committeeAssignments.pl?nUserid=398&Chamber=S Senator Dan Bishop (Rep): Committee Assignments, 2017-2018 Session], North Catolina General Assembly.</ref> In the state Senate, Bishop was one of the primary sponsors of legislation in 2017 that would prevent persons living near [[Concentrated animal feeding operation|North Carolina factory farms]] from recovering meaningful [[damages]] in civil actions against [[agribusiness]]es found responsible for harming them. This legislation was supported by industry and opposed by environmental groups, such as the [[League of Conservation Voters]].<ref>Sue Sturgis, [https://www.facingsouth.org/2017/04/nc-lawmakers-want-shield-factory-farms-big-damage-payments-victims NC lawmakers want to shield factory farms from big damage payments to victims], ''Facing South'', [[Institute for Southern Studies]] (April 7, 2017).</ref> In 2017, Bishop likened the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement to [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazis]], asserting that they are "both violent, racist movements."<ref>Abbie Bennett, [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article167208587.html Dan Bishop likens Black Lives Matter to white supremacists], ''News & Observer'' (August 14, 2017).</ref> ====LGBT issues==== Bishop was the architect of the [[Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act]], or House Bill 2.<ref name="CampbellHB2">Colin Campbell, [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article73581522.html Rep. Dan Bishop: Leader of House Bill 2], ''Charlotte Observer'' (April 23, 2016).</ref><ref name="Harrison">Steve Harrison, [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article67845317.html N.C. Gov Pat McCrory signs into law bill restricting LGBT protections], ''Charlotte Observer'' (March 23, 2016).</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/05/bathroom-bill-sponsor-likely-gop-nominee-in-north-carolina.html|title=Bathroom Bill Author Most Likely GOP Nominee in North Carolina Special Election|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=2019-05-13|website=Intelligencer|language=en|access-date=2019-05-18}}</ref> This controversial "[[bathroom bill]]" legislation restricted [[transgender]] individuals from using gender-segregated public facilities, other than those identified for use by their biological sex as defined on their birth certificates.<ref name="CampbellHB2"/> The bill, signed into law by Republican Governor [[Pat McCrory]], also invalidated a local nondiscrimination law passed by the [[Charlotte City Council]] and prohibited any local government in North Carolina from enacting new protections for gay, lesbian, or transgender individuals.<ref name="Harrison"/> Bishop used his sponsorship of HB2 in fundraising emails, stating that he stood up to the "radical transgender agenda."<ref name="CampbellHB2"/> Bishop's role in promoting HB 2 raised the profile of the freshman state senator.<ref name="CampbellHB2"/> In 2017, after a public backlash against the legislation and economic harms of $3.7 billion, HB 2 was repealed and replaced with new compromise legislation brokered between Democratic Governor [[Roy Cooper]] and the Republican leadership of the state legislature.<ref name=":0" /> Bishop was the sole senator to make a floor speech against HB 2's revocation, calling it a "betrayal of principle."<ref>Colin Campbell, Craig Jarvis & Lynn Bonner, [https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article141656549.html NC Senate, House approve HB2 repeal compromise], ''News & Observer'' (March 30, 2017).</ref> In emails from Bishop subsequently made public under North Carolina's public-records law, Bishop compared LGBT rights activists to the [[Taliban]].<ref name=":1">Erik Spanberg, [https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2016/06/exclusive-inside-hb-2-authors-legislative-emails.html EXCLUSIVE: Inside HB 2 author's legislative emails on LGBT issues], ''Charlotte Business Journal'' (June 9, 2016).</ref> Following release of video showing HB 2 protesters shouting "shame" at former Governor McCrory during protests in Washington D.C., Bishop stated that he supported legislation that would criminalize such political behavior. Critics have called the proposed action antithetical to First Amendment principles.<ref>Abbie Bennett, [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article128185274.html Does Pat McCrory need protection? One NC senator thinks so], ''News & Observer'' (January 23, 2017).</ref> ==Gab controversy== In August 2017, Bishop contributed $500 toward the establishment of the social network [[Gab.ai]], a website best known for its [[white supremacists|white supremacist]] userbase.<ref name="Morrill">Jim Morrill, [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article220886200.html NC lawmaker says he's being 'smeared' for investment in site tied to white supremacists], ''Charlotte Observer'' (October 31, 2018).</ref> [[Antisemitism]] is a prominent part of the site's content<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/gab-pittsburgh-shooting-back-online/|title=Gab came back online, and immediately filled up with anti-semitism|last=Kraus|first=Rachel|website=Mashable|language=en|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref> and the platform itself has engaged in antisemitic commentary.<ref name="wapo_2018-10-31">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/10/31/silicon-valley-elite-social-media-hate-radicalization-that-led-gab/|title=From Silicon Valley elite to social media hate: The radicalization that led to Gab|last1=Timberg|first1=Craig|date=October 31, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031145703/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/10/31/silicon-valley-elite-social-media-hate-radicalization-that-led-gab/|archive-date=October 31, 2018|last2=Harwell|first2=Drew|last3=Elizabeth|first3=Dwoskin|last4=Brown|first4=Emma|dead-url=no|df=mdy-all}}</ref> At the time, Bishop made a [[Twitter]] post saying that he decided to make the contribution in response to what he called a California "tech giants' [[Big Brother (Nineteen Eighty-Four)|Big Brother]] routine." In that he referred to a newspaper account regarding companies such as [[PayPal]] and [[Facebook]] canceling accounts used by organizers and funders of the homicidal, white supremacist, [[Unite the Right rally]], in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] where torch carrying marchers chanted, "Jews shall not replace us."<ref name="nyt94">{{cite news|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl |last2=Rosenthal|first2=Brian M.|date=August 12, 2017|title=Man Charged After White Nationalist Rally in Charlottesville Ends in Deadly Violence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/12/us/charlottesville-protest-white-nationalist.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=June 29, 2019|deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812215453/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/12/us/charlottesville-protest-white-nationalist.html|archivedate=August 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Corriher" /> Bishop's [[crowdfunding]] contribution attracted attention the following year, after the [[Pittsburgh synagogue shooting]] that murdered 11 people and wounded three policemen and another congregant, committed by man who was a Gab user.<ref name="AndoneHannaSterlingMurphy">{{cite news |last1=Andone |first1=Dakin |last2=Hanna |first2=Jason |last3=Sterling |first3=Joe |last4=Murphy |first4=Paul P. |title=Hate crime charges filed in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 dead |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/27/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-active-shooter/index.html |accessdate=June 29, 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028011343/https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/27/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-active-shooter/index.html |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Morrill" /> After Bishop's contribution attracted scrutiny, Bishop complained that he was being "smeared" and stated in a [[Twitter]] post, "I don't use Gab, but if its management allows its users to promote violence, anti-Semitism, and racism on the platform they have misled investors and they will be gone quickly, and rightfully so.”<ref name="Morrill" /> The ''Charlotte Observer'', responding to Bishop's defense in an editorial, noted that to accept Bishop's statement, "you also would need to believe he wasn't aware in 2017 of Gab's links to [[hate group]]s — despite common knowledge and the article he cited — and that he did he not investigate or even explore the site before giving it $500 of his money."<ref name="Corriher" /> Also in August 2017, Bishop tweeted with the hashtag #Charlottesville that the "Racist, alt-right must be condemned" conflating that with the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement. When asked, "Are you equating 'Black Lives Matter' with those who wave Nazi flags?" Bishop responded, "Yes. Both violent, racist movements."<ref>[https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article167208587.html ‘Violent, racist movements’: Dan Bishop likens Black Lives Matter, white supremacists], ''[[Charlotte Observer]]'', Abbie Bennett, August 14, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref> ==Criticism of journalists== Bishop has attracted attention for statements attacking journalists, which have been likened to statements by [[Donald Trump]]'s.<ref name="Corriher">Billy Corriher, [https://www.facingsouth.org/2018/11/meet-nc-legislator-who-invested-alt-rights-social-media-platform Meet the N.C. legislator who invested in the alt-right's social media platform], ''Facing South'', [[Institute for Southern Studies]] (November 2, 2018).</ref> On one occasion, Bishop criticized the [[Raleigh]] press corps over coverage of the state budget, calling reporters the "jihad media."<ref name="CampbellMedia">Colin Campbell, [https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article157558204.html NC senator blasts 'jihad media' on Twitter in response to budget article], ''News & Observer'' (June 22, 2017).</ref> ==Electoral history== On March 14, 2019, Bishop announced he would run for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], he entered the [[2019 North Carolina's 9th congressional district special election|9th congressional district special election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sponsor of N Carolina anti-LGBT bill to run for US House|url=https://www.wral.com/sponsor-of-n-carolina-anti-lgbt-bill-to-run-for-us-house/18259652/|agency=Associated Press|publisher=WRAL|date=March 14, 2019|accessdate=March 14, 2019}}</ref> He won the Republican Party primary on May 14, 2019, with 47% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/state-sen-dan-bishop-sponsor-of-bathroom-bill-wins-gop-primary-in-redo-of-north-carolina-congressional-election/2019/05/14/675d7b26-76ab-11e9-a7bf-c8a43b84ee31_story.html Republican voters nominate N.C. state lawmaker who sponsored controversial ‘bathroom bill’ in 9th Congressional District race] ''[[Washington Post]]'', Felicia Sonmez and Amy Gardner, May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/special-election-results/north-carolina-9th/ North Carolina 9th District special election results], ''[[Washington Post]]'', May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Date || Position || Status || Opponent || Result || Vote share || Top-opponent vote share |- | 2004 || [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina#Mecklenburg County Government|Mecklenburg County Commissioner]] || Open-seat || Ran unopposed || Elected || 100.00%<ref name="RaceID291873" /> || 0% |- | 2006 || [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina#Mecklenburg County Government|Mecklenburg County Commissioner]] || [[Incumbent]] || Ran unopposed || Re-elected || 100.00%<ref name="RaceID450485" /> || 0% |- | 2014 || [[North Carolina House of Representatives|State Representative]] || Open-seat || Eric A. Cable (L) || Elected || 74.78%<ref>https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=797182</ref> || 25.22% |- | 2016 || [[North Carolina Senate|State Senator]] || Open-seat || Lloyd Scher (D) || Elected || 56.81%<ref>https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=812614</ref> || 43.19% |- | 2018 || [[North Carolina Senate|State Senator]] || [[Incumbent]] || Chad Stachowicz (D) || Re-elected || 52.89%<ref>https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=847030</ref> || 47.11% |- | 2019 || [[United States House of Representatives]] || Open-seat || [[Dan McCready]] (D) || TBD ||TBD || TBD |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://ballotpedia.org/Dan_Bishop Dan Bishop at Ballotpedia] *[https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/92423/dan-bishop#.XJ8TXdjQjIU Project Vote Smart – Dan Bishop (NC)] profile *[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=118162 Our Campaigns – Dan Bishop (NC)] profile *[https://votedanbishop.com Campaign Website] *[https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/398 Office website] *[https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H0NC09187/ Financial information (federal office)] at the [[Federal Election Commission]] {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ruth Samuelson]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]] Commission<br>from the 5th district|years=2005–2009}} {{s-aft|after=Neil Cooksey}} |- {{s-par|us-nc-hs}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ruth Samuelson]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[North Carolina House of Representatives]]<br>from the 104th district|years=2015–2017}} {{s-aft|after=[[Andy Dulin]]}} |- {{s-par|us-nc-sen}} {{s-bef|before=[[Robert A. Rucho|Bob Rucho]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[North Carolina Senate]]<br>from the 39th district|years=2017–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{North Carolina State Senators}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop, Dan}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:21st-century American politicians]] [[Category:County commissioners in North Carolina]] [[Category:Discrimination against LGBT people in the United States]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives]] [[Category:21st-century American lawyers]] [[Category:North Carolina lawyers]] [[Category:North Carolina Republicans]] [[Category:North Carolina state senators]] [[Category:University of North Carolina School of Law alumni]]'