General Election
NY Senate · Senate District 10
James Sanders Jr. is the only candidate on the ballot for this seat. You can also write in a candidate whose name isn't printed on the ballot.
A senator since 2013 is the only candidate on the ballot
James Sanders Jr., a Democrat, has held the seat since 2013 and was re-elected in 2024 with 71.0% of the vote. The 2026 Democratic and Working Families Party primaries were canceled, and he is the only candidate on the general-election ballot, on both lines.
Issues
7 issues · 1 candidate · every claim sourced
Banking, credit and minority-owned businesses
Central to the raceLaws signed in late 2025 bar using consumer credit history in hiring, employment and licensing decisions and require food stores and retailers to accept cash, and a 2024 law raised state agencies' discretionary buying threshold for minority-, women- and service-disabled-veteran-owned businesses; the Legislature decides how far rules on credit, payments and state purchasing should go.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageSponsored laws barring the use of consumer credit history in hiring, employment and licensing decisions and requiring food stores and retailers to accept cash, and a 2024 law raising state agencies' discretionary buying threshold to $750,000 for certain goods and services from minority-, women- and service-disabled-veteran-owned businesses.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S3072, barring the use of consumer credit history in hiring, employment and licensing decisions; voted yes on April 3, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 681 on Dec. 19, 2025. Sponsored S4153, barring food stores and retailers from refusing cash; voted yes on April 8, 2025 and on the amended S4153A on May 29, 2025, and it was signed into law as Chapter 548 on Nov. 21, 2025. Sponsored S8082 in the 2023-24 session to raise state agencies' discretionary buying threshold to $750,000 for certain goods and services from minority-, women- and service-disabled-veteran-owned businesses; voted yes on Jan. 16, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 110 on March 22, 2024. In August 2026, brought together state and city financial officials and minority depository institutions to discuss partnerships with community-based banks.
Sponsor of S3072, S4153 and S8082, voting yes on each; brought together financial officials and minority depository institutions · 2024-01-16 to 2026-08-13 · S3072 signed into law as Chapter 681 on Dec. 19, 2025; S4153 signed into law as Chapter 548 on Nov. 21, 2025; S8082 signed into law as Chapter 110 on March 22, 2024
Housing, rents and homeowners
Central to the raceState law sets landlords' and lenders' obligations to tenants and homeowners, including a law signed in October 2025 on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set residential rents; in question is how far the state should regulate rent-setting, foreclosure and the taxes on housing.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageVoted for the 2025 law on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set residential rents and sponsors a 2025 bill on reducing taxes under shelter rent that is in the Senate Housing Committee; his Senate biography says he sponsored the 2022 Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S7882, on landlords' use of algorithmic pricing to set residential rents, on June 9, 2025; it was signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025. Sponsors a 2025 bill on reducing taxes under shelter rent, which is in the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee. His Senate biography says he sponsored the 2022 Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act; its bill number and final status were not found.
Voted yes on S7882; sponsor of the 2025 shelter-rent tax bill and of the 2022 Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act · 2022 to 2025-10-16 · S7882 signed into law as Chapter 437 on Oct. 16, 2025; the shelter-rent tax bill is in the Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee; the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act's bill number and final status were not established
Civil rights and racial equity
Also in playState law created a Community Commission on Reparations Remedies in December 2023, and since February 2026 requires discriminatory restrictive covenants to be modified before real property is sold; the Legislature and governor decide what further remedies for discrimination, if any, the state adopts.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageSponsored the 2026 law requiring restrictive covenants that discriminate against a protected class, in violation of state or federal law, to be modified before real property is sold, and co-sponsored the 2023 law creating the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S8760, requiring restrictive covenants that discriminate on the basis of a protected class to be modified before real property is sold; voted yes on Feb. 3, 2026, when it passed the Senate and Assembly, and it was signed into law as Chapter 43 on Feb. 13, 2026. Co-sponsored the legislation establishing the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, signed into law on Dec. 19, 2023.
Sponsor of S8760, voting yes; co-sponsor of the reparations commission legislation · 2023-12-19 to 2026-02-13 · S8760 signed into law as Chapter 43 on Feb. 13, 2026; the reparations commission legislation signed into law on Dec. 19, 2023
Health care
Also in playMedical aid in dying became state law in February 2026 after a 35-27 Senate vote, and the Legislature sets health and mental hygiene spending in the state budget bills and decides what health insurers must cover.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageSponsored 2023 laws on collaborative models for addressing health care disparities and on insurance coverage and notice for colorectal cancer screenings, voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act, which passed the Senate 35-27, and voted for the 2024-25 health and mental hygiene budget bill.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S1451, on collaborative models for addressing health care disparities; voted yes on March 1, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 697 on Dec. 8, 2023. Sponsored S824, which made technical amendments requiring insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings; voted yes on Jan. 18, 2023, and it was signed into law as Chapter 78 on March 3, 2023. Voted yes on A136, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, on June 9, 2025; it passed the Senate 35-27 and was signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026. Voted yes on S8307C, the 2024-25 health and mental hygiene budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it was signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024.
Sponsor of S1451 and S824, voting yes on each; voted yes on A136 and S8307C · 2023-01-18 to 2026-02-06 · S1451 signed into law as Chapter 697 on Dec. 8, 2023; S824 signed into law as Chapter 78 on March 3, 2023; A136 passed the Senate 35-27 and was signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026; S8307 signed into law as Chapter 57 on April 20, 2024
State budget and taxes
Also in playThe Legislature and governor enact the state budget in a set of bills each year, most recently in May 2026, and state law decides which property owners receive tax exemptions; at stake is how much the state spends, on what, and who pays.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageVoted for the 2026-27 state fiscal plan bill and the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill, and was one of 12 senators voting no on a retroactive property tax exemption for Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim, which passed 47-12 and became law.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Voted yes on S9009C, carrying major parts of the 2026-27 state fiscal plan, on May 27, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026. Voted yes on S8306C, the 2024-25 education, labor, housing and family assistance budget bill, on April 19, 2024; it passed both houses that day and was signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024. Voted no on S8161, authorizing Yeshivas Nachlas Sofrim to receive retroactive real property tax exempt status, on June 12, 2025; it passed the Senate 47-12 with 4 excused and was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025.
Voted yes on S9009C and S8306C; voted no on S8161 · 2024-04-19 to 2026-05-28 · S9009 signed into law as Chapter 59 on May 28, 2026; S8306 signed into law as Chapter 56 on April 20, 2024; S8161 passed the Senate 47-12 and was signed into law as Chapter 475 on Oct. 16, 2025
Public safety and crime victims
Also in playState law sets criminal penalties and what help crime victims' families are told about, including a 2024 law on notifying families of potential eligibility for awards after a victim's death, and a February 2026 law governs where cannabis dispensaries may locate near schools and houses of worship.
James Sanders Jr.
In coverageSponsored the 2024 law requiring the Office of Victim Services to tell families of potential eligibility for awards after a crime victim's death; his Senate biography says he also sponsored Carlos' Law in 2022, a measure to raise criminal penalties on corporations for a worker's death or injury; voted for the 2026 law on cannabis dispensaries' distance from schools.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S8881 in the 2023-24 session, requiring the Office of Victim Services to notify families of potential eligibility for awards after a crime victim's death and directing police to set procedures for telling next of kin about available programs; he was recorded absent for the Senate floor vote on May 22, 2024, and it was signed into law as Chapter 518 on Nov. 22, 2024. His Senate biography says he sponsored Carlos' Law in 2022, a measure to raise penalties for criminal corporate liability for a worker's death or injury to up to $500,000; its bill number and final status were not found. Voted yes on S9155, on the location of adult-use cannabis dispensaries near schools and houses of worship, on Feb. 11, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 2 that day.
Sponsor of S8881 (absent for its floor vote) and of Carlos' Law; voted yes on S9155 · 2022 to 2026-02-11 · S8881 signed into law as Chapter 518 on Nov. 22, 2024; S9155 signed into law as Chapter 2 on Feb. 11, 2026; Carlos' Law's bill number and final status were not established
Flooding and energy
Also in playJames Sanders Jr.
In coverageSponsored a 2023 bill directing New York City to analyze stormwater and groundwater problems in southeast Queens, which passed both houses and was vetoed, and voted for a 2026 law on when state-law provisions on gas service to new customers take effect.
✓ Track record — what they've actually done
Sponsored S1449, directing the city of New York to analyze stormwater and groundwater issues in southeast Queens; voted yes on June 8, 2023, and it passed the Senate and Assembly before the governor vetoed it on Nov. 17, 2023. Voted yes on S8812, on the effectiveness of provisions of law on providing gas service to new customers, on Feb. 5, 2026; it was signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026.
Sponsor of S1449, voting yes; voted yes on S8812 · 2023-06-08 to 2026-04-10 · S1449 passed both houses and was vetoed on Nov. 17, 2023; S8812 signed into law as Chapter 101 on April 10, 2026