Category: Federal Legislator — U.S. Representative (resigned); State official — North Carolina Attorney General
Role: North Carolina Attorney General (2025–present); formerly U.S. Representative, NC’s 8th Congressional District (2019–2024, resigned November 2024)
Priority: P1

Who Is Dan Bishop?

James Daniel Bishop (born July 1, 1964, Charlotte, North Carolina) is a Republican politician serving as North Carolina’s Attorney General since January 2025. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing NC’s 8th Congressional District from 2019 to November 2024, when he resigned to take office as Attorney General.

Bishop holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from the UNC School of Law. Before Congress, he served in the North Carolina Senate (2015–2019), where he was a chief sponsor of House Bill 2, the “bathroom bill” requiring transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their birth sex.

Bishop won the NC Attorney General race in 2024, defeating Democrat Jeff Jackson in a competitive race in a state that also went for Donald Trump.

Documented Actions: 2020 Election

December 11, 2020: Signed Texas v. Pennsylvania Amicus Brief

Bishop signed the amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania, No. 22O155.

Source: Texas v. Pennsylvania, No. 22O155, amicus brief of 126 Representatives.

January 6–7, 2021: Voted to Reject Certified Electoral College Results

Bishop voted YEA on both House objections, voting to reject Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s certified results.

Source: GovTrack.us, House votes 117-2021/h10 and h11.

Pattern Analysis

Bishop’s trajectory is notable: he participated in the 2020 election subversion effort as a House member, then used that record as a credential to win a statewide Attorney General race in 2024. As North Carolina’s chief law enforcement officer, he exercises authority over state criminal enforcement, civil rights enforcement, and election-related prosecutorial decisions. His election denial record intersects directly with his current state law enforcement role.

Severity Assessment

Immediate harm: Moderate (federal actions were within constitutional prerogatives)
Democratic erosion: High — election denial record was leveraged to win statewide law enforcement authority; as AG, could influence election-related enforcement
Current threat level: Elevated — state Attorney General with law enforcement authority through 2028

Accountability Status

Current status: North Carolina Attorney General (January 2025–present); term through 2028
Legal exposure: No known criminal charges or investigations
Election status: Next election 2028

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Dan Bishop”; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Bishop
2. Texas v. Pennsylvania, No. 22O155, amicus brief
3. GovTrack.us, Rep. Dan Bishop
4. WRAL, North Carolina 2024 election results

Last Updated: May 22, 2026
Profile Status: Active — currently serving as NC Attorney General