James Sanders Jr.

When Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2019, Sanders was named Chairman on the Committee on Banks.

In December 2015, Sanders filed papers to challenge Congressman Gregory Meeks in the Democratic primary for New York's 5th congressional district. However, he dropped out of the race in March 2016, accusing Meeks of leaking information to the New York Post about an FBI investigation into Sanders' use of slush funds and alleged solicitation of a $250,000 bribe from a non-profit. 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.

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. He would go on to win with 56% of the vote, winning the general election unopposed. He has been unopposed in the general election ever since.

In 2009, he was challenged for reelection from candidates Michael Duncan, Jacques Leandre, and Frederick Lewis. He was re-elected with 40% of the vote, with his next leading opponent, Jacques Leandre, receiving 19%. His council seat is now held by his former District Manager Donovan Richards.

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. In 2015, Sanders endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States in the 2016 Democratic primaries and the 2016 general election. He endorsed Bernie Sanders again for the 2020 Primary.

In 2005, he married his former chief of staff. He has two children from a previous marriage.

In 2002, Sanders won his seat 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'. 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. 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.

James Sanders Jr. (born 1957) is a member of the New York State Senate, serving since January 2013. He represents the 10th Senatorial District, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale and parts of Far Rockaway.