James Sanders Jr.
New York State Senator, District 10 since 2012. Ran in 10 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 9. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
New York State Senator, District 10Born 1957
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 4
- 256 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 9.6%
- Chamber median 1.3%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +97.5
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Banks · chair
- Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises · chair
- Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
- Future of the Long Island Power Authority Legislative Commission
- Insurance
- Labor
- Racing, Gaming and Wagering
- Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Feb 2026
Became law Feb 2026
Became law Nov 2025
Passed House Jun 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Sanders sits in the New York State Senate
Jr. is closer to the center than 26% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Cordell Cleare, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Jose Serrano
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:58 PM ET
With Sanders’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills2%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the New York State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Sanders’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Sanders | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2026 | A 1962: Enacts "Francesco's law"; repealer | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 41–20 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | A 2657: Establishes the electric landscaping equipment rebate program; provides for the repeal of… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 52–10 |
| Feb 11, 2026 | S 9155: Relates to the location of retail adult-use dispensaries in proximity to schools and… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 35–24 |
| Feb 5, 2026 | S 8812: Relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law relating to the provision of gas service… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 34–25 |
| Feb 4, 2026 | A 9515: Relates to requirements for the provision of medication for medical aid in dying | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 34–28 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Sanders was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | D+97.5 | D+39.6 | +57.9 |
| 2024 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | D+42.1 | D+39.6 | +2.5 |
| 2022 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | — | D+57.2 | — |
| 2020 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | New York Attorney General | Lost | R+62.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | D+92.9 | — | — |
| 2014 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | New York State Senate, District 10 (primary) | Won | +52.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | New York State Senate, District 10 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | New York State Senate, District 10 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: New York State Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $105K
- Spent
- $116.4K
Source: New York State Board of Elections filings through Sep 23, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:38 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Sanders For Senate State | Active |
Source: New York State Board of Elections filings through Sep 23, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 1:38 AM ET
Seats Sanders has held
- New York State Senate, District 10 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Sanders has run against
- Write-in (I) · 2026 election, won
- Michael A. O'Reilly (R) · 2024 election, won
- Letitia James (D) · 2018 election, lost
- Adrienne E. Adams (I) · 2016 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: New York State Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know Sanders
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/e00ee209-a6a5-4ca1-8ac6-f403e1cbcca2
- Wikidata Q6142750
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET