DemocratIn office since Nov 2012

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

Official website Wikipedia

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

2025–2026 session · 256 sponsored · 4 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

S 8789 Defines "employer" for purposes of the fair credit reporting act; relates to the requesting or use for…
Became law Feb 2026

S 8760 Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property
Became law Feb 2026

S 3072 Relates to the use of consumer credit history for certain purposes
Became law Dec 2025

S 4153 Relates to prohibiting food stores and retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash
Became law Nov 2025

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

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.

201220142016201820202022202420262028New York State Senate, District 10

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	—	—	—