{{short description|American politician (born 1957)}} {{other people|James Sanders}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = James Sanders | image = (06-19-19) NY State Senator James Sanders Jr. during Senate Session at the NY State Capitol, Albany NY (cropped).jpg| | state_senate = New York State | district = 10th | term_start = January 1, 2013 | term_end = | predecessor = Shirley Huntley | successor = | office2 = Member of the New York City Council<br>from the 31st district | term_start2 = January 1, 2002 | term_end2 = January 1, 2013 | predecessor2 = Juanita Watkins | successor2 = Donovan Richards | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|8|14}} | birth_place = Far Rockaway, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Andrea Stevenson | education = Brooklyn College (BA) | website = {{url|nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr|State Senate website}} }} '''James Sanders Jr.''' (born 1957) is a member of the New York State Senate, serving since January 2013. He represents the 10th district, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale and parts of Far Rockaway.
==Early life and education== Sanders was born at the Hammel Houses in Far Rockaway. He attended public schools throughout the Rockaways then attended Brooklyn College.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} Sanders served as a Marine.<ref name=10q>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2007/11/13/2007-11-13_10_questions_for_queens_city_councilman_-1.html |title=10 questions for Queens City Councilman James Sanders Jr. |work=Daily News |date=2007-11-13 |access-date=2009-07-28 |author=Wisloski, Jess |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023233415/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2007/11/13/2007-11-13_10_questions_for_queens_city_councilman_-1.html |archive-date=2010-10-23 |url-status=live }}</ref> He married Andrea Stevenson.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Andrea+Stevenson-Sanders |location=New York |work=Daily News |title=Andrea Stevenson-Sanders}}</ref>
==Career== In 2001, Sanders won election to the 31st district of the New York City Council in an underdog win against powerful candidates James Blake and Charlotte Jefferson. Blake had received the support of incumbent councilwoman Juanita Watkins. On the council, Sanders was the first African-American to sit as Chair of the Economic Development Committee'.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://council.nyc.gov/d31/html/members/home.shtml |title=James Sanders Jr. |access-date=2009-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725053319/http://council.nyc.gov/d31/html/members/home.shtml |archive-date=2009-07-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2009, Sanders was reported to have shown up for only 61% of City Council meetings for fiscal year 2009, the second-fewest on the list.<ref name="truant">{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/07202009/news/regionalnews/awol_at_city_hall_180268.htm|title=AWOL At City Hall: Council Truants Are Rarely There|author=Goldenberg, Sally|date=2009-07-20|access-date=2009-07-28|publisher=New York Post|page=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822200028/http://www.nypost.com/seven/07202009/news/regionalnews/awol_at_city_hall_180268.htm|archive-date=2009-08-22|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he has attributed this to the near fatal car crash that he had in the fall of 2008 which also injured his staffers, Donovan Richards and Mike Duvall.<ref name="truant" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politickerny.com/azipaybarah/670/sanders-released-intensive-care|title=Sanders Released From Intensive Care|author=Paybarah, Azi|date=2008-11-18|access-date=2009-07-30|publisher=PolitickerNY|page=1}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
In 2009, he was challenged for reelection from candidates Michael Duncan, Jacques Leandre, and Frederick Lewis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boropolitics.com/sections/news/politics/council/district31/|title=City Council District 31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708084051/http://boropolitics.com/sections/news/politics/council/district31/|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=2009-08-15}}. boropolitics.com</ref> He was re-elected with 40% of the vote, with his next leading opponent, Jacques Leandre, receiving 19%.<ref>[http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/105793/ny1-online--2009-new-york-city-primary-returns/Default.aspx NY1 Online: 2009 New York City Primary Returns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922182728/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/105793/ny1-online--2009-new-york-city-primary-returns/Default.aspx |date=2009-09-22 }} . NY1.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-15.</ref> He was succeeded in the council seat by his former District Manager Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President as of 2025.
In early 2007, Sanders endorsed then-Senator Barack Obama for President and traveled to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina to campaign for him. He became an Obama delegate and represented his district at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.<ref name=bio/> In 2015, Sanders endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2016 Democratic primaries and the 2016 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-senators-harlem-queens-support-sanders-exclusive-article-1.2480639|title=KING: Senators in Harlem, Queens support Sanders — EXCLUSIVE|website=New York Daily News |date=30 December 2015 |access-date=31 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313024055/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-senators-harlem-queens-support-sanders-exclusive-article-1.2480639|archive-date=13 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He endorsed Bernie Sanders again for the 2020 Primary.<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Marans|first=Daniel|user=danielmarans|number=1139272850584547329|title=.@berniesanders announces New York endorsements: City Councilman Rafael Espinal; state Sens. Julia Salazar and James Sanders; Assemblymen Ron Kim and Phil Steck.|date=June 13, 2019|access-date=June 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-05|title=Who are prominent New Yorkers endorsing for president?|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-york-presidential-endorsements.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416151954/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-york-presidential-endorsements.html|archive-date=2020-04-16|access-date=2020-06-21|website=CSNY|language=en}}</ref>
=== New York Senate === In 2012, Sanders, who would have been term-limited in the City Council and unable to run again in 2013, opted to primary Senator Shirley Huntley, who was facing corruption charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NY-Senator-Shirley-Huntley-Says-She-Expects-to-be-Arrested-167426745.html|title=NY Senator Shirley Huntley Arrested|last1=Gormley|first1=Michael|last2=Gingras|first2=Brynn|website=NBC New York|date=25 August 2012 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130220624/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NY-Senator-Shirley-Huntley-Says-She-Expects-to-be-Arrested-167426745.html|archive-date=2019-01-30|url-status=live}}</ref> He would go on to win with 56% of the vote,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=773875|title=Our Campaigns - NY State Senate 10 - D Primary Race - Sep 13, 2012|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2019-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130161902/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=773875|archive-date=January 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> winning the general election unopposed. He has been unopposed in the general election ever since.
In December 2015, Sanders filed papers to challenge Congressman Gregory Meeks in the Democratic primary for New York's 5th congressional district.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2015/12/13/scandal-plagued-politicians-will-battle-for-queens-congressional-seat/ |title=Scandal-plagued politicians will battle for Queens congressional seat |last=Short |first=Aaron |website=New York Post |language=en |date=2015-12-13 |access-date=2019-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402170413/https://nypost.com/2015/12/13/scandal-plagued-politicians-will-battle-for-queens-congressional-seat/ |archive-date=2019-04-02 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, he dropped out of the race in March 2016, accusing Meeks of leaking information to the ''New York Post'' about a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into Sanders' use of slush funds and alleged solicitation of a $250,000 kickback from a non-profit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2016/03/20/bribe-politician-drops-bid-to-unseat-gregory-meeks/ |title='Bribe' politician drops bid to unseat Gregory Meeks |last=Short |first=Aaron |website=New York Post |language=en |date=2016-03-20 |access-date=2019-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402170429/https://nypost.com/2016/03/20/bribe-politician-drops-bid-to-unseat-gregory-meeks/ |archive-date=2019-04-02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Short|first1=Aaron|last2=Vincent|first2=Isabel|last3=Klein|first3=Melissa|date=2016-02-07|title=We were blacklisted for refusing politician $250K bribe|url=https://nypost.com/2016/02/07/politician-demanded-250k-bribe-for-funding-nonprofit-suit/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530235139/https://nypost.com/2016/02/07/politician-demanded-250k-bribe-for-funding-nonprofit-suit/|archive-date=2020-05-30|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Short|first1=Aaron|last2=Vincent|first2=Isabel|last3=Klein|first3=Melissa|date=2016-02-14|title=Politician used $1M of taxpayers' money to host 'parties'|url=https://nypost.com/2016/02/14/politician-used-1m-of-taxpayers-money-to-host-parties/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810152500/https://nypost.com/2016/02/14/politician-used-1m-of-taxpayers-money-to-host-parties/|archive-date=2019-08-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Klein|first=Melissa|date=2017-10-21|title=Councilman, state senator eyed by feds in criminal probe|url=https://nypost.com/2017/10/21/councilman-state-senator-eyed-by-feds-in-criminal-probe/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812054443/https://nypost.com/2017/10/21/councilman-state-senator-eyed-by-feds-in-criminal-probe/|archive-date=2019-08-12|url-status=live}}</ref> Sanders was never charged with any wrongdoing, and he successfully ran for reelection to his Senate seat despite the Queens Democratic Party backing an opponent, Adrienne Adams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/interviews-profiles/queens-new-boss-gregory-meeks.html|title=Meet Gregory Meeks: Queens' new boss|last=Coltin|first=Jeff|website=City & State NY|language=en|date=2019-04-01|access-date=2019-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402170414/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/interviews-profiles/queens-new-boss-gregory-meeks.html|archive-date=2019-04-02|url-status=live}}</ref>
When Democrats took control of the state senate in 2019,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Vivian |date=2018-11-07 |title=Democrats Take Control of New York Senate for First Time in Decade |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/nyregion/democrat-ny-senate.html |access-date=2025-09-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> Sanders was named chair of the Committee on Banks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nysenate.gov/district/10 | title=The New York State Senate | date=August 2023 }}</ref>
In 2019, Sanders introduced a resolution to recognize October 1, the National Day of the People's Republic of China, as "China Day" in New York State.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-23|title=Sanders' Resolution Recognizing "China Day" Celebrated with Ceremony in Brooklyn|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/james-sanders-jr/sanders-resolution-recognizing-china-day-celebrated|access-date=2020-06-21|website=NY State Senate|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823235818/https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/james-sanders-jr/sanders-resolution-recognizing-china-day-celebrated|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yan |first=Flora |date=December 2, 2021 |title='China Day' in New York: A Case Study in United Front Work |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/china-day-in-new-york-a-case-study-in-united-front-work/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609041904/https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/china-day-in-new-york-a-case-study-in-united-front-work/ |archive-date=2024-06-09 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=The Diplomat |language=en-US}}</ref> The resolution in the state senate was attended by China's counsel general for New York State, Huang Ping, who praised it.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 19, 2019|title=New York state to set up China Day to strengthen friendship|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/19/c_138156040.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109141217/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/19/c_138156040.htm|archive-date=January 9, 2020|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wenzheng|first=Kong|date=June 20, 2019|title=Empire State marks China Day|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/20/WS5d0a5d5ba3103dbf143292f8.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605013346/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/20/WS5d0a5d5ba3103dbf143292f8.html|archive-date=June 5, 2020|access-date=2020-06-21|website=China Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 21, 2019|title=New York State's establishment of China Day celebrated in NYC|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/21/c_138244155.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721033900/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/21/c_138244155.htm|archive-date=July 21, 2019|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Xinhua News Agency}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 2005, he married his former chief of staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://queenstribune.com/the-new-king-of-queens/|title=The New King of Queens?|date=2014-09-18|website=Queens Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205223948/http://queenstribune.com/the-new-king-of-queens/|archive-date=2017-02-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has two children from a previous marriage.<ref name=10q/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/james-sanders-jr}}
{{New York State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, James Jr.}} Category:1957 births Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:African-American state legislators in New York (state) Category:Brooklyn College alumni Category:Living people Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:New York City Council members Category:People from Far Rockaway, Queens Category:United States Marines