Malika Sanders-Fortier
Member of the Alabama Senate
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
November 7, 2018
Preceded byHenry Sanders
Personal details
Born
Malika Asha Sanders

1973 (age 50–51)
Selma, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesHenry Sanders (father)
Faya Ora Rose Touré (mother)
EducationSpelman College (BA)
Birmingham School of Law (JD)

Malika Asha Sanders-Fortier (born 1973) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Alabama Senate from the 23rd district. She assumed office on November 7, 2018. She was a Democratic candidate in the 2022 Alabama gubernatorial election.[1]

Early life and education

Sanders-Fortier was born in Selma, Alabama.[2] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from the Birmingham School of Law.[3]

Career

After graduating from college, Sanders-Fortier returned to Selma and worked as the executive director of 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar and the Black Belt Lawyers Association.[4] Sanders-Fortier was elected to the Alabama Senate in November 2018, succeeding her father, Henry Sanders.[5][6][7] In January 2021, Sanders-Fortier introduced legislation to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge.[8][9][10]

In January 2022, Sanders-Fortier announced that she would not seek re-election, and that her father would attempt to reclaim his old seat in her place. That same month, Sanders-Fortier qualified as a Democratic candidate for governor instead. The two advanced to a runoff on June 21, 2022, with Yolanda Flowers winning the nomination.[11]

Electoral results

2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Yolanda Rochelle Flowers 56,859 33.8%
Democratic Arthur Kennedy 15,654 9.3%
Democratic Chad Martin 9,360 5.6%
Democratic Patricia Jamieson Salter 19,665 11.7%
Democratic Malika Sanders-Fortier 54,636 32.5%
Democratic Doug Smith 11,900 7.1%
Total votes 168,074 100.0%
2018 Alabama Senate election, District 23[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Malika Sanders-Fortier 30,193 65.53
Independent Mark Story 15,796 34.28
Write-in 88 0.19

References

  1. ↑ Sharp, John (January 30, 2022). "Where are the Alabama Democrats? 2022 election shaping up as 'grim' reality for party". AL.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ "SENATOR MALIKA SANDERS-FORTIER". selmacenter. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  3. ↑ "Malika Sanders-Fortier". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  4. ↑ "SENATOR SANDERS-FORTIER, MALIKA". www.legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  5. ↑ Brown, Robbie (2012-08-24). "Bust of Civil War General Stirs Anger in Alabama". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  6. ↑ Benn, Alvin. "Sanders family leads Alabama's largest black law firm". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  7. ↑ Alex AuBuchon. "Daughter Takes Over Longest-Serving State Senator's Seat". www.apr.org. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  8. ↑ "Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier to introduce legislation to let Selma leaders rename Edmund Pettus Bridge". Selma Sun. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. ↑ "Renaming Alabama bridge for John Lewis opposed in Selma". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  10. ↑ "'Honor the local people of Selma': Edmund Pettus Bridge moves closer to being renamed". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  11. ↑ "Malika Sanders-Fortier qualifies to run for Alabama governor". Selma Sun. January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ "2022 Alabama Democratic Gubernatorial Primary". Ballotpedia. January 28, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ Merrill, John (November 6, 2018). "2018 General election results" (PDF). Alabama Secretary of State. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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