# James Sanders Jr.
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{{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](/source/New_York's_10th_State_Senate_district)
| term_start = January 1, 2013
| term_end =
| predecessor = [Shirley Huntley](/source/Shirley_Huntley)
| successor =
| office2 = Member of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council)
from the [31st](/source/New_York_City's_31st_City_Council_district) district
| term_start2 = January 1, 2002
| term_end2 = January 1, 2013
| predecessor2 = Juanita Watkins
| successor2 = [Donovan Richards](/source/Donovan_Richards)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|8|14}}
| birth_place = [Far Rockaway](/source/Far_Rockaway%2C_Queens), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| spouse = Andrea Stevenson
| education = [Brooklyn College](/source/Brooklyn_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
| 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](/source/New_York_State_Senate), serving since January 2013. He represents the [10th district](/source/New_York's_10th_State_Senate_district), which includes the [Queens](/source/Queens) neighborhoods of [Richmond Hill](/source/Richmond_Hill%2C_Queens), [South Ozone Park](/source/South_Ozone_Park%2C_Queens), [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica%2C_Queens), [Rochdale Village](/source/Rochdale_Village%2C_Queens), [Rosedale](/source/Rosedale%2C_Queens) and parts of [Far Rockaway](/source/Far_Rockaway%2C_Queens).
==Early life and education==
Sanders was born at the [Hammel Houses](/source/Hammel_Houses) in Far Rockaway. He attended public schools throughout the Rockaways then attended [Brooklyn College](/source/Brooklyn_College).{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} Sanders served as a [Marine](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps).[{{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](/source/Daily_News_(New_York)) |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 }}] He married Andrea Stevenson.[{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Andrea+Stevenson-Sanders |location=New York |work=Daily News |title=Andrea Stevenson-Sanders}}]
==Career==
In 2001, Sanders won election to the [31st district](/source/New_York_City's_31st_City_Council_district) of the [New York City Council](/source/New_York_City_Council) in an [underdog](/source/underdog_(competition)) win against powerful candidates James Blake and Charlotte Jefferson. Blake had received the support of [incumbent](/source/incumbent) councilwoman Juanita Watkins. On the council, Sanders was the first African-American to sit as Chair of the [Economic Development Committee](/source/Economic_Development_Committee)'.[{{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 }}] 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.[{{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](/source/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}}] 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](/source/Donovan_Richards) and Mike Duvall.[{{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](/source/PolitickerNY)|page=1}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}]
In 2009, he was challenged for reelection from candidates Michael Duncan, Jacques Leandre, and Frederick Lewis.[{{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] He was re-elected with 40% of the vote, with his next leading opponent, Jacques Leandre, receiving 19%.[[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.] He was succeeded in the council seat by his former District Manager [Donovan Richards](/source/Donovan_Richards), the Queens Borough President as of 2025.
In early 2007, Sanders endorsed then-Senator [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) for [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) and traveled to [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), [Ohio](/source/Ohio), and [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina) to campaign for him. He became an Obama [delegate](/source/Delegate_(American_politics)) and represented his district at the [Democratic National Convention](/source/Democratic_National_Convention) in [Denver](/source/Denver).[ In 2015, Sanders endorsed Senator [Bernie Sanders](/source/Bernie_Sanders) for [President of the United States in the 2016 Democratic primaries](/source/Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries%2C_2016) and the 2016 general election.][{{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](/source/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}}] He endorsed Bernie Sanders again for the [2020 Primary](/source/2020_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries).[{{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}}][{{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}}]
=== 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](/source/Shirley_Huntley), who was facing corruption charges.[{{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}}] He would go on to win with 56% of the vote,[{{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}}] 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](/source/Gregory_Meeks) in the Democratic primary for [New York's 5th congressional district](/source/New_York's_5th_congressional_district).[{{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 }}] However, he dropped out of the race in March 2016, accusing Meeks of leaking information to the ''[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)'' about a [Federal Bureau of Investigation](/source/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation) probe into Sanders' use of [slush fund](/source/slush_fund)s and alleged [solicitation](/source/solicitation) of a $250,000 [kickback](/source/Kickback_(bribery)) from a non-profit.[{{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 }}][{{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}}][{{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}}][{{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}}] Sanders was never charged with any wrongdoing, and he successfully ran for reelection to his Senate seat despite the [Queens Democratic Party](/source/Queens_Democratic_Party) backing an opponent, [Adrienne Adams](/source/Adrienne_Adams_(politician)).[{{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}}]
When Democrats took control of the state senate in 2019,[{{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](/source/The_New_York_Times) |language=en}}] Sanders was named chair of the Committee on Banks.[{{cite web | url=https://www.nysenate.gov/district/10 | title=The New York State Senate | date=August 2023 }}]
In 2019, Sanders introduced a resolution to recognize October 1, the [National Day of the People's Republic of China](/source/National_Day_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China), as "China Day" in New York State.[{{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}}][{{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](/source/The_Diplomat_(magazine)) |language=en-US}}] The resolution in the state senate was attended by China's counsel general for New York State, Huang Ping, who praised it.[{{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](/source/Xinhua_News_Agency)}}][{{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](/source/China_Daily)}}][{{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](/source/Xinhua_News_Agency)}}]
==Personal life==
In 2005, he married his former [chief of staff](/source/chief_of_staff).[{{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}}] He has two children from a previous marriage.[
==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
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Sanders Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sanders_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sanders_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
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