Sandra Bolden Cunningham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandra Bolden Cunningham
President pro tempore of the New Jersey Senate
In office January 11, 2022 – January 9, 2024
Preceded by	Teresa Ruiz
Succeeded by	Shirley Turner
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 31st district
In office November 8, 2007 – January 9, 2024
Preceded by	Joseph Doria
Succeeded by	Angela V. McKnight
Personal details
Born	Sandra Bolden (1950-09-04) September 4, 1950 (age 74) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Glenn Cunningham (1998–2004)
Education	Bloomfield College (BA)

Sandra Bolden Cunningham (born September 4, 1950) is an American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 to 2024, she served in the New Jersey State Senate. She represented the 31st Legislative District. She started her term on November 8, 2007. Sandra Cunningham is the widow of Glenn Cunningham. He was the former Mayor of Jersey City and passed away in 2004.

Early Life and Education

Sandra Bolden was born on September 4, 1950. She grew up in Newark. She went to West Side High School. Later, she earned a college degree from Bloomfield College. Her degree was in liberal arts.

Early Career

Before her political career, Sandra Bolden was an actress. She was part of the Negro Ensemble Company. This was a famous theater group. In 1988, she became an executive for the Hudson County Bar Association. She had worked in various county jobs before this.

Political Journey

After her husband, Glenn Cunningham, passed away, many people thought Sandra might enter politics. Her husband had been elected to the State Senate in 2003. She also considered running for Mayor of Jersey City in 2005.

Sandra Cunningham became the president of the Sandra and Glenn Cunningham Foundation. Through this foundation, she supported many good causes in Jersey City. In 2006, some people wanted her to run for the U.S. Senate. But she decided not to. Instead, she announced she would run for the state senate in 2007. She ran against Senator Joseph Doria in the Democratic primary election.

Senator Doria, who was also the mayor of Bayonne, left the race in March 2007. Then, Assemblyman Louis Manzo decided to run against Cunningham. Manzo had worked with her late husband. During the election, Sandra Cunningham received support from important groups. These included the Hudson County Democratic Organization and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. She won the Democratic primary election in June 2007. In the general election in November, she easily won with over 87% of the votes.

In October 2007, Senator Doria resigned from his position. Sandra Cunningham was chosen to finish his term. She was sworn into the state senate on November 8, 2007. After finishing Doria's term, she began her own four-year term.

In the Senate, she led the Higher Education Committee. She also served on the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Labor Committee. Since 2008, she was the Senate majority whip. This is an important leadership role.

In 2012, a local newspaper called The Hudson Reporter listed her as one of the 50 most influential people in Hudson County. She was ranked number 6 on this list.

After being ill for some time, Sandra Cunningham announced in 2022-2023 that she would not run for reelection. She decided to retire from the Senate.

Representing District 31

New Jersey has 40 legislative districts. Each district has one State Senator and two members in the General Assembly. For the 2022—23 Legislative Session, the representatives from the 31st District were:

• Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham
• Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight
• Assemblyman William Sampson

Personal Life

Her Marriage

Sandra Bolden started dating Glenn Cunningham in 1990. He was a police officer and councilman in Jersey City. They got married on January 7, 1998, in Nassau, Bahamas. When Glenn Cunningham ran for Mayor of Jersey City in 2001, Sandra often joined him at public events. Glenn Cunningham passed away on May 25, 2004.