Griffin Forum: Democracy Defense Project

Former Lt. Gov. John Cherry and former U.S. Congressman Mike Bishop will discuss the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan effort to rebuild confidence in our nation’s electoral process. Former U.S. Representative Dan Kildee, CMU's Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government, will serve as the forum moderator.

Lt. Governor John Cherry

John Cherry became Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor in 2003 when he was elected along with Governor Jennifer Granholm. Before that he served the people of Michigan for more than 20 years as a State Representative and as State Senator. He was the Senate Democratic Floor Leader for six years and the Senate Democratic Leader for another six years.

Cherry has also served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association and as chair of the Great Lakes Commission.

As Lt. Governor, Cherry chaired Michigan’s Higher Education Commission more popularly called The Cherry Commission. The Commission issued a report that has served as guide for the development of Higher Education in Michigan for much of the Twenty First Century.

In 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Cherry to the Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the Flint Institute of Science and History which operates the Sloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium in Flint's Cultural Center.

Congressman Mike Bishop

Elected to the United States Congress, Michael D. Bishop served until 2018 and was appointed to influential committees including Ways and Means, Judiciary, and Higher Education. He played a pivotal role in passing significant legislation signed into law by Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump and represented the United States on the global stage, engaging with international leaders.

From 1998 to 2010, Bishop was elected to and served in the Michigan State Legislature, including terms in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. During his tenure in the Michigan Senate, he was elected by his peers to serve as Senate Majority Leader, enriching his leadership and influence in state politics.

Bishop is the Founder and President of American General Counsel PLC, a firm known for its unique blend of legal, business, and political expertise, as well as an extensive network of decision-makers and business leaders. He also served as Co-President of iPSE-US, a national association representing independent professionals and the self-employed.

Following his congressional tenure, Bishop continued his public service in the private sector, focusing his efforts on education and the promotion of bipartisan civility. He is an Aspen Rodel Fellow, a George Washington University GSPM Fellow, and a 2023 University of Southern California Dornsife Center Fellow. His commitment to governmental reform is further demonstrated through his involvement with the Princeton University Initiative on the Constitutional Powers of Congress and the Commission on the Continuity of Congress, where he has provided testimony before the U.S. Congress.