Brenda
K. Sanders
Green Party candidate Brenda K. Sanders challenges incumbent Rashida Tlaib in Michigan's 12th Congressional District (2026).
- sources
- 5
- positions
- 5
- endorsements
- 1
Background
Brenda K. Sanders is the Green Party candidate for Michigan's 12th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. The Federal Election Commission and the Green Party of Michigan both list her as the Green Party's nominee for the seat, challenging Democratic incumbent Rep. Rashida Tlaib. 13
A native of Detroit, Sanders holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan (1980) and a J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy (1983). She was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1985 and practiced law until 2008. 1121
In 2008, Sanders was elected to Detroit's 36th District Court, serving as a judge from January 1, 2009. The Michigan Supreme Court ordered her removal from the bench effective July 1, 2015. 2116 No sources establish that she has held a legislative office.
Sanders's campaign website, brendaksanders.com, has been identified in sources as her official campaign site, though as of late 2025 it displayed a generic page without substantive campaign biography or policy content. 19
At a glance
- Party
- Green Party
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 12, Michigan
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- brendaksanders.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 9newsSanders confirmed on November 3 general election ballot as Green Party candidate in MI-12
An updated Michigan 2026 General Election Guide lists Brenda K. Sanders alongside incumbent Rashida Tlaib and other candidates as the Green Party entrant for Michigan's 12th Congressional District on the November 3 ballot. The directory attributes her listing to the Green Party convention.
Michigan 2026 General Election Guide: Candidates & Ballot · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30filingBrenda K. Sanders listed as Green Party candidate for Michigan's 12th Congressional District
The iVoterGuide candidate profile identifies Brenda K. Sanders as the Green Party candidate for U.S. House, Michigan District 12, in the 2026 election cycle.
Brenda K. Sanders - Candidate Profile · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 23endorsementMEA endorses Rashida Tlaib, not Sanders, for Michigan's 12th District
The Michigan Education Association released its full list of 2026 candidate recommendations, endorsing incumbent Democrat Rashida Tlaib for District 12 rather than Green Party candidate Brenda K. Sanders.
MEA announces full list of candidate recommendations for Election 2026 - Michigan Education Association · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Green Party of Michigan organizationNominated as the Green Party of Michigan candidate for Michigan's 12th Congressional District; described as 'Endorsed by local party' in the GPUS elections database. gpelections.org
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H4MI12145(opens in a new tab)
Sources 5
- [1] Michigan 2026 General Election Guide: Candidates & Ballot(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Brenda K. Sanders - Candidate Profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [3] MEA announces full list of candidate recommendations for Election 2026 - Michigan Education Association(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [4] Brenda Sanders — 2026 Michigan's 12th Congressional District Election | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Aug 30, 2026
- [5] Brenda K. Sanders Runs for U.S. House of Representatives, 2026(opens in a new tab) Mar 11, 2026