Quick Facts
Biography
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.
Early life and education
Sanders-Fortier was born in Selma, Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from the Birmingham School of Law.
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. Sanders-Fortier was elected to the Alabama Senate in November 2018, succeeding her father, Henry Sanders. In January 2021, Sanders-Fortier introduced legislation to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
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.
Electoral results
| 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% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Malika Sanders-Fortier | 30,193 | 65.53 | |
| Independent | Mark Story | 15,796 | 34.28 | |
| Write-in | 88 | 0.19 | ||