Sandra Bolden Cunningham

Sandra Bolden Cunningham (born September 4, 1950) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 2007 to 2024, where she represented the 31st Legislative District. She was sworn into office on November 8, 2007. She is the widow of former Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham, who died in 2004.

Early life and education Sandra Bolden was born on September 4, 1950, and was raised in Newark. She graduated from West Side High School and received a B.A. from Bloomfield College with a major in liberal arts.

Early career Bolden was an actress and was a part of the Negro Ensemble Company. She became the executive of the Hudson County Bar Association in 1988 after working various county jobs in Essex County. She was virtually unopposed in the November general election, defeating independent candidate Louis Vernotico with over 87% of the vote.

Following Doria's October 2007 resignation to become Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Cunningham was elected on October 23, 2007, by a special election convention to serve the remainder of Doria's term, which expired in January 2008. Cunningham served the remainder of Doria's term before beginning her own four-year term and was sworn into the state senate on November 8, 2007.

In the Senate, she had been assigned to serve as chair of the Higher Education; she also at on the Budget and Appropriations Committee and Labor Committee. She had been the Senate majority whip since 2008.

In 2012, The Hudson Reporter named her #6 in its list of Hudson County's 50 most influential people, with North Bergen mayor and State Senator Nicholas Sacco ranked first on the list.

Following a prolonged illness in 2022-2023, Cunningham announced that she would not run for reelection in 2023 and would retire from the Senate.

District 31 Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The representatives from the 31st District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are: Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight Assemblyman William Sampson

Personal life

Spouse Sandra Cunningham began dating Jersey City police officer and councilman Glenn Cunningham in 1990 and got married on January 7, 1998, in Nassau, Bahamas. While Glenn Cunningham was campaigning for and later won the Jersey City mayoral election in 2001, Sandra Cunningham often accompanied her husband at public events and political meetings. She paid a $708 fine.

In March 2021, Cunningham was charged for driving while intoxicated after sideswiping two cars parked near her home with her Infiniti G35x. On 3 June 2021, Cunningham plead not guilty to the DWI and careless driving charges; the case is currently pending trial and discovery. If found guilty, Cunningham could face "from 2 to 90 days in jail and a one year loss of her driver’s license."