Brenda Sanders

Sanders earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1980 and a J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1983.[1] She practiced law in Detroit for 24 years, specializing in criminal, family, civil litigation and church law, and served as house counsel for the 36th District Court.[1] She later became a judge of the Michigan 36th District Court and ran for re-election unopposed in 2014.[1] In July 2015 the Michigan Supreme Court ordered her removed from the 36th District Court bench; Michigan Public reported the removal was due to mental illness, following a suspension without pay that began in September 2014 after several months of medical leave, and that her lawyer said she would not appeal. Sanders called the ruling "unfounded" and "fraudulent," according to the Detroit News as cited by Michigan Public.[5]

Sanders ran as the Green Party candidate for this district in 2024, receiving 2.3% of the vote, and was nominated again at the Green Party convention on July 18, 2026.[1][3] She received 1.0% of the vote to Rashida Tlaib's 76.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]