Sanders was an editor and farmer.[1] On November 6, 1883,[3] he was elected to represent Attala County in the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Democrat for the 1884 term.[1][4] During this term, Sanders cast the deciding vote in favor of the Mississippi State College for Women's establishment.[5] In 1885, Sanders left farming to enter business.[5] In 1895,[5] he became the editor of the Kosciusko Star-Ledger, which later became the Star-Herald.[2]
On November 7, 1899, Sanders was elected to represent the 22nd District (Attala County) in the Mississippi State Senate for the 1900-1904 term.[1][6] During this term, Sanders served on the following committees: Printing; Agriculture, Commerce, & Manufactures; County Affairs; and Immigration.[6] On November 3, 1903, Sanders was re-elected to the Senate for the 1904-1908 term.[1] During this term, Sanders served on the following committees: Agriculture; Commerce & Manufactures; Education; and Penitentiary & Prisons.[1] During the 1904 session, Sanders was credited with helping pass the uniform textbook bill of 1904.[7]
On November 5, 1907, Sanders was re-elected to the Senate for the 1908-1912 term.[7] During this term, Sanders chaired the Printing committee, and also served on the following committees: Rules; Finance; Humane & Benevolent Institutions; Engrossed Bills; and Temperance.[7]
On November 7, 1911, Sanders was re-elected to the Senate for the 1912-1916 term.[8] During that term, Sanders was "the most senior member of the Senate in point of service".[8] He chaired the Finance committee, and also served on the following committees: Rules, Printing, and Contingent Expenses.[8]
He served as a deputy U. S. Marshal for three years under President Woodrow Wilson.[5] He also served two terms as mayor of Kosciusko.[5] By 1928, Sanders co-owned the Kosciusko Star-Herald with his son Stokes.[9] Sanders endorsed Al Smith in the 1928 presidential election.[9]
Sanders celebrated his 85th birthday on July 26, 1937, and received a congratulatory letter from President Franklin Roosevelt.[5] Sanders died on August 22, 1937, in Kosciusko.[5][10]