Charles Bishop (Alabama politician)

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Charles Bishop is an American politician and farmer from Alabama. He was born in Moro Bay, Arkansas.

Bishop began as a Democrat and served in the Alabama State Senate from the 5th district from 1983 to 1991. He later served as Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from 1999 to 2003.

Before the 2006 election, he switched to the Republican Party and was elected to the Alabama State Senate from the 5th district, serving from January 2006 to November 3, 2010. The 5th district includes parts of Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties. He did not seek re-election in 2010, and Greg Reed, another Republican, succeeded him. Bishop also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990 and 2002, and he sought the Republican nomination for the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010 but did not win.

A notable incident occurred in June 2007 when Bishop punched fellow Democrat Senator Lowell Barron on the Senate floor after a heated exchange. Bishop said Barron insulted him; Barron denied using that language. A Senate investigation was opened, but no formal action was taken, and Bishop walked out of the chamber.

In 2008, Bishop spoke before the National Conference of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a white supremacist organization. He has remained a controversial figure in Alabama politics. He is married to Cynthia and works as a farmer.