Sanford Bishop
Democratic incumbentA Blue Dog Democrat who has represented southwest Georgia since 1993 — one of the longest-serving members of the delegation. He is a senior member of House Appropriations and its Agriculture subcommittee, a perch he uses to steer farm, nutrition, and military funding to the district. He ran unopposed in the 2026 Democratic primary.
Previously held
- U.S. House, GA-02 (1993–present)
- House Appropriations Committee — Agriculture & Defense subcommittees
- Georgia House of Representatives (1977–1991)
Top contributors
A senior appropriator funded heavily by agribusiness and corporate PACs tied to the farm economy he helps fund — AFLAC, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, cotton, pecan and peanut groups all max out to him. Filed with the FEC.
- $15,000.00AFLAC PAC (insurance)
- $10,000.00National Cattlemen's Beef Assn PAC (agribusiness)
- $10,000.00Southeast Cotton Committee (agribusiness)
- $10,000.00National Pecan Federation PAC (agribusiness)
- $10,000.00National Peanut Buying Points Assn PAC (agribusiness)
- $10,000.00Troutman Pepper Locke LLP PAC (law/lobby)
$1,004,630 raised · $454,686 cash on hand — as of Apr 29, 2026 (FEC latest filing).
Source: FEC — Sanford BishopWhere they stand
A Blue Dog fiscal moderate and senior appropriator who touts fiscal discipline while securing farm, nutrition and military dollars for southwest Georgia; generally backs bipartisan budget deals to avoid shutdowns.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford Bishop · Bishop — House siteSupports public-school and HBCU funding, Pell grants and rural school investment.
Source: Bishop — House siteVoted for the Affordable Care Act and backs protecting it, Medicaid, and rural hospitals in his largely rural district.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopOpposes privatizing or cutting Social Security and Medicare, a core message to his older rural constituents.
Source: Bishop — House siteSupports raising the federal minimum wage, in line with House Democrats.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopBacks federal housing and veteran-homelessness programs and uses appropriations to fund them.
Source: Bishop — House siteA strong VA and military-base advocate — the district includes Fort Benning-area and other installations — and sits on the Defense appropriations subcommittee.
Source: Bishop — House siteTakes a moderate line — supports border security paired with a path to legal status, more centrist than most of his caucus.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopMore gun-friendly than most Democrats given his rural district, though he has supported some background-check measures — a classic Blue Dog split.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopGenerally supports abortion rights but has at times taken more moderate positions than his party's mainstream.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopSupports LGBTQ+ protections, voting with his caucus on equality measures.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopA Congressional Black Caucus member who defends diversity and equity programs and civil-rights enforcement.
Source: Bishop — House siteHas taken a cautious approach to marijuana, supporting limited medical and research reforms over full legalization.
Source: Ballotpedia — Sanford BishopHas not made AI or data centers a focus; his portfolio centers on agriculture, defense and rural development.
Source: Bishop — House siteScandals
None documented.