Sister District sat down with candidate Aisha Sanders to find out more about her platform and why she’s running for office.

What key issues Do you feel strongly about?

Education

We have a lot of issues that we need to fix in our state, and I truly believe that it starts with education. My family always impressed upon me the need and importance of getting a good education so that I could achieve success in my life. As a legislator, I will influence and craft legislation that is geared towards giving others the same advantages that I had. I pledge to fight for funding for our public schools, pay raises for our teachers, and improvements for our public school system.

Healthcare

We must also improve healthcare in Mississippi. If we expand Medicaid, it will fund our rural hospitals. We will also be able to provide healthcare coverage to an additional 80,000 to 100,000 people in Mississippi. We need to make sure that our medical professionals are receiving pay that is comparable to other states. There are so many professionals that leave this area because they simply cannot afford to stay here. They have to work a second job for additional income, because their job doesn’t pay them enough. It’s time to fix these issues.

What first inspired you to become politically active?

I was raised by lawyers but I went to school to be a civil engineer. It was a conversation with a Kentucky State senator that made me realize that to really influence the kind of change I had in mind, it would need to be done through policy. This realization prompted me to enter law school. Ever since then, it’s like I have found my calling. I am able to fight for the people of my community. I have spent years trying to balance the scales and ensure that everyone is treated fairly. I hope to continue to do this as Representative of District 96.

When did you realize you wanted to step up and run for office?

I decided to run for this office because I care about the people of District 96. Mississippi needs legislators that are willing to stand strong for the people that elected them. We need someone in this district that will truly be a representative for us, and that will fight for what the people of this district need.

How do you manage being both a Candidate and full-time lawyer?

I am the managing partner of Sanders Law Firm, and I currently have a full caseload. There are many days when I am in court for several hours, and then I go from there right into canvassing-mode. It takes a lot, but I’m up to the challenge. I’m serious about my commitment to the people of District 96, and I hope that they can see that I am working hard to gain their trust and their support.

What advice would you give to young women considering a run for public office?

Make sure that you’re ready to give your all. Being a political leader is not a 9-5 job. Running for office definitely doesn’t operate under normal business hours. People in the community are ready for progress, and they will look to you to be that beacon of hope that can help lead the community forward. So be prepared and be resilient. If you feel in your heart that this is what you’re supposed to do, then go for it.

Don’t be afraid of failure. Even if you run for office and you don’t win the position, you didn’t lose. You gained experience and connections that you could not have gotten any other way. The fact that you stepped forward and put yourself out there takes a lot of courage and you should be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished.

What do you love about Mississippi?

I love the people of Mississippi. They are why I decided to go to law school. I watched the issues that people dealt with, and I wanted a way to be able to fight for the people of my home state. I am on a quest to balance the scales and make life fair for ALL Mississippians, not just a select few. We have an opportunity in front of us, but it’s up to us to decide to come together and create the change that we want to see.

How would your victory help to change the Mississippi legislature going forward?

Being the Representative of District 96 will give me the opportunity to make direct and impactful change, and it will put me in the position to help my community on a larger scale. Our educators and students can’t wait. We have to start somewhere, and I believe that education will take us to the root of many of the socioeconomic issues that we face in Mississippi. I’m excited to work for the people, and I thank all of you for your love and support.

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