VoterLens
New York State Senate District 10
Brooklyn College—Bachelor's degree in history with a specialization in African-American studies
Data last updated 10/21/2026
James Sanders Jr. is a Marine veteran and public servant who was first elected to represent New York State Senate District 10 on September 13, 2012. Before joining the State Senate, he served as President of Queens School Board District 27 and as New York City Councilmember for District 31, where he chaired the Economic Development Committee and worked on MWBE expansion and anti-predatory-lending policies.
Committee Assignments: Banks Chair · Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Chair · Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Member · Insurance Member · Labor Member · Racing, Gaming and Wagering Member · Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Member
James Sanders Jr., Democratic New York State Senator for District 10, has emphasized expanding access to healthcare, including protecting healthcare coverage for immigrant seniors and improving care for sickle cell disease, maternal/newborn care, opioid reversal access, and patient-provider protections in managed care. His healthcare record includes sponsoring multiple health-related bills in the 2025-2026 New York legislative session and publicly supporting broader access to quality healthcare.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Issued a statement opposing reports that lawfully present immigrant seniors could lose healthcare coverage, arguing that denying care is unfair, harmful, and bad public health policy.
SourceJames Sanders Jr. emphasizes expanding economic opportunity in District 10 and statewide through MWBE contracting, community banking, minority depository institutions, and access to capital for small businesses and underserved communities. His record as a sitting Democratic New York State Senator for District 10 shows repeated sponsorship of bills aimed at job growth, entrepreneurship, contracting fairness, and financial inclusion.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sanders publicly supported reforms to modernize deposit programs so community and minority-owned financial institutions can expand lending, support small businesses, and promote job growth in historically overlooked neighborhoods.
SourceJames Sanders Jr., the Democratic New York State Senator for District 10, has generally supported immigrant-protection and immigrant-access measures, including legal counsel/access-to-services protections, ICE transparency, health coverage for undocumented residents, and community "Know Your Rights" services. His public statements frame undocumented immigrants and immigrant students as constituents deserving services, due process, and opportunities regardless of status.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Sanders hosted a free immigrant resource clinic with legal assistance for Rockaway’s undocumented population and expanded services to meet constituents’ needs regardless of legal status or language barriers.
SourceSanders publicly supported the DREAM Act, saying undocumented students deserve a chance at success and that giving them opportunities helps build a stronger New York.
SourceJames Sanders Jr. supports aggressive climate action, clean renewable energy, and climate resilience for Senate District 10, including a Green New Deal-style transition away from fossil fuels. His record includes sponsoring or co-sponsoring bills for greenhouse-gas neutrality, clean fuels, renewable-powered public facilities, and expanded solar siting.
James Sanders Jr., the Democratic New York State Senator for District 10, supports expanding education opportunity and affordability, including student representation in school governance, stronger oversight of private education debt, tuition-free public higher education, and access to financial aid for undocumented students.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Supported the DREAM Act, saying undocumented students deserve opportunities to succeed and that expanding educational access would help build a stronger New York.
SourceJames Sanders Jr., Democratic New York State Senator for District 10, emphasizes public safety through police-training standards, violence prevention, gun-safety restrictions, and criminal-justice reforms. His record includes sponsoring bills on law-enforcement training and firearm-license restrictions, plus creating a commission to reduce both mass incarceration and violent crime.
NYSenate.gov - About James Sanders
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: biography, education, background, committees
NYSenate.gov - Senator James Sanders Jr.
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jrFetched: biography, office, district
Wikipedia - James Sanders Jr.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Sanders_Jr.Fetched: age, location, education
Open States via Election.org
https://www.election.org/state/new-york/legislature/upper/district-10Fetched: votingRecord
VoterHQ / OpenStates people dataset
https://voterhq.com/state-legislators/ny/james-sandersFetched: votingRecord
Transparency USA
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/james-sanders-jrFetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA contributors
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/james-sanders-jr/contributors?cycle=2017-to-nowFetched: campaignFinance
Blue Voter Guide
https://bluevoterguide.org/NY/candidate_James_Sanders_Jr./23209Fetched: endorsements
Vote Smart
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/80367/james-sanders-jrFetched: endorsements
New York State Senate - James Sanders Jr. District 10 profile
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Sickle Cell Treatment Act bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1578/amendment/BFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Immigrant seniors healthcare statement
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/james-sanders-jr/sen-james-sanders-jr-speaks-out-against-immigrantFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - HMO contract prohibitions bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5527Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Maternity and newborn hospital coverage bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S940Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Opioid reversal drugs discharge bill page
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8569Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - About James Sanders Jr.
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - 2026 Bills and Legislation Highlights
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/james-sanders-jr/senator-james-sanders-jr-highlights-2026-billsFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S267
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S267Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S8357
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8357Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S3615
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3615Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S4155A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4155/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
New York State Comptroller
https://www.osc.ny.gov/press/releases/2026/03/dinapoli-sanders-and-anderson-take-action-expand-lending-underserved-communities-and-spur-economicFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - James Sanders Jr. About
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S1066
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1066Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S8858
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8858Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate Bill S2237A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S2237/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate press release - Immigration Clinic
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/james-sanders/senator-sanders-hosts-successful-immigration-clinic-farFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate DREAM Act press release PDF
https://www.nysenate.gov/sites/default/files/press-release/attachment/01.23.19_dream_act_release.pdfFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - James Sanders Jr. about page
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6553
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6553Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S1343
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1343Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S6882
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6882Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S4842 Amendment A
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4842/amendment/AFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Environmental score press release
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/james-sanders/senator-sanders-receives-perfect-score-environmental?page=0Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - About James Sanders Jr.
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jr/aboutFetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S3064
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3064Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S2680
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2680Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Bill S4781
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4781Fetched: issuePositions
NYSenate.gov - Senate Majority Passes the José Peralta New York State DREAM Act
https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2019/andrea-stewart-cousins/senate-majority-passes-jose-peralta-new-yorkFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - Senator James Sanders Jr.
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/james-sanders-jrFetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S1400
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1400Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S6535
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6535Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S4790
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4790Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S6642
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6642Fetched: issuePositions
New York State Senate - S658
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S658Fetched: issuePositions