Sylvia Santana

Sylvia Santana
Member of the Michigan Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2019
Preceded by	Morris Hood III
Constituency	3rd district (2019–2022) 2nd district (2023– )
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 9th district
In office January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2018
Preceded by	Harvey Santana
Succeeded by	Karen Whitsett
Personal details
Born	(1979-11-23) November 23, 1979 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Harvey Santana ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Eastern Michigan University Michigan State University
Website	Senate website Campaign website

Sylvia Anjel Santana (born November 23, 1979) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Michigan Senate, representing the 2nd district. She previously represented the 3rd district from 2019 to 2022. She also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from the 9th district from 2017 to 2019.

Early life and education

Santana was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended Eastern Michigan University, where she was a member of the Finance Club, majored in finance, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 2007. In 2022 she received her master's degree in business administration from Michigan State University.

Early career

Before her tenure in the Michigan legislature, Santana spent over 15 years working in finance, for companies like ProsperUS Detroit/Southwest Economic Solutions, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Inc., and Quicken Loans.

State legislature

House of Representatives

Santana served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 9th district, which at the time included Detroit and Dearborn. In this role, she was a member of the CARES Task Force, which studies mental health issues in the state. She was also on State House committees for the Department of Health and Human Services, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and Corrections.

Senate

Santana is currently serving her second term in the Michigan Senate, after first being elected in 2018. She was named the MIRS News Democratic Legislator of the Year in 2020.

Sen. Sylvia Santana is a dedicated wife, mother and public servant.

Santana has extensive professional experience working in the financial industry — more than 15 years. It is her passion to ensure small-business owners are equipped with the right tools to grow and create jobs. She worked to identify credit facilities and other sources of funding available to small businesses in efforts to achieve economic empowerment for local communities. She was a trusted resource to local business owners guiding them through the lending process and vetting of financial options to fund their business ideas.

Santana has been an active member in her community for more than a decade. She created and led the neighborhood block club. Additionally, she filled the role of finance director and, later, as president of the Warrendale Community Organization.

Before joining the state Senate, she served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives. As a member of the House of Representatives, Santana served as a member of the bi-partisan CARES Task Force which was formed to study mental health issues across Michigan. The CARES Task Force led her to focus on mental health issues and criminal justice issues in her time in the House and as she moved to the Senate.

Elected to the Senate in 2018, Santana is serving in her first term. Immediately, upon entering the Senate, Santana led a bi-partisan effort to ‘Raise the Age’ in Michigan. The first of many criminal justice policy issues she has spearheaded the effort on. She has served on multiple task forces looking at how to make Michigan communities safer by reforming our criminal justice system. Santana also serves as the minority vice chair of the Department of Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee. As the minority vice chair, she has advocated and funded programs that aim at reducing healthcare disparities and increasing access to mental health and substance abuse programs.

The senator has been a steadfast champion of policies that keep communities safe, provide children with a good education to compete globally, and grow local businesses supporting the community.

Santana graduated Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in business and has received her master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University. She and her husband, Harvey, along with their three children reside in Warrendale.

Personal life

Santana married fellow Michigan legislator Harvey Santana in 2003, after meeting her freshman year of college at Eastern Michigan University. They live in Warrendale with their three children: Sofia, Olivia, and Samuel. She is Catholic.

Santana has been involved in a number of community projects and groups, including the creation of the neighborhood block club and as the finance director and later president of the Warrendale Community Organization.

External links

• Official Senate Profile
• Campaign website