
Senator Merika Coleman was elected to the Alabama Senate in November of 2022. Serving her first term, Senator Coleman was elected by her colleagues as the Vice-Chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus . Before serving in the Senate, Senator Coleman served 20 years in the Alabama House of Representatives. She was a member of the leadership of the 105-member body and served as the Assistant Minority Leader , the first person ever to serve in this position. A history maker elected first at 28 years old, to date, Senator Coleman is the youngest woman ever elected to the Alabama Legislature. Known as a legislator who speaks truth to power, Senator Coleman currently serves on seven Senate Standing Committees and is the only female member of the Banking and Insurance Committee and one of only four women who serve in the entire 35-member Alabama Senate . In addition to Banking, Senator Coleman serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Transportation and Energy, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, and two Government Affairs Committees. In addition to Senator Coleman's two degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Public Administration, she completed her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Birmingham School of Law. Senator Coleman is actively involved with numerous organizations, beginning with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., where she helps develop programming for the Social Action Committee . Senator Coleman is also a member of the House of Electa Chapter #895, O.E.S., P.H.A., and the Bessemer Business and Professional Women's Organization, serving as the Chair of the Legislative Committee. Though on hiatus, Senator Coleman is also a member of Links Inc. Professionally, Senator Coleman started her career as a community organizer and economic justice strategist and presently is a part-time Municipal Judge in the City of Birmingham. She is also the owner of the Law Offices of Merika Coleman, LLC , a law firm that focuses on domestic relations, family law, as well as estate planning and personal injury. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Judge U.W. Clemon Center for Economic and Social Justice at Miles College. Nationally, Senator Coleman is a sought-after legislator by many women and political groups for her ideas on a range of issues, including eradicating human trafficking, the role of Black women in politics, healthcare reform, reproductive rights for women, pay equity, economic development, defense spending, and common-sense gun regulations . Senator Coleman has been recognized by numerous organizations for her commitment to the poor and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians . Most recently, she was inducted into the U.A.B. M.P .A. Program's Hall of Fame for her contributions to public service. Although she has accomplished many things politically and professionally, her greatest accomplishment is being a mother . She is the mother of Elexia , who was a member of the 2019 graduating class of Vanderbilt University. Elexia also graduated in 2024 with a dual Master of Public Health and Master of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her son Xaviar , a former member of the UAB Blazer football team, graduated in May 2025 from Miles College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He is currently pursuing a Master's of Artificial Intelligence from Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences and will pursue a career in finance. Senator Coleman is the proud daughter of a disabled veteran, retired USAF MSGT Arthur Williams and Paulette Williams.
Teacher certification; Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate established
2026-01-22 · senate
Public K-12 schools, cell phone policy and Internet/social media safety
2025-05-07 · senate
State employees; paid parental leave authorized, parameters for eligibility established
2025-03-05 · senate