Merika Coleman is a Democratic State Senator representing Alabama's 19th District since 2022.

Merika Coleman, born September 6, 1973, in Lakenheath, England, is a Birmingham, Alabama resident. She is married to Edward Coleman with two children, Elexia and Xaviar, and is Baptist. Elected as Alabama's youngest state legislator in 2002, she served 20 years in the Alabama House of Representatives , including as Assistant Minority Leader—the first in that role—and Ranking Minority Member on the Judiciary Committee. In the Senate, she chairs the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus and serves on committees like Banking and Insurance , Ways and Means, Transportation and Energy, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, and Government Affairs. Notable achievements include sponsoring three anti-human trafficking bills, creating a committee to remove racist language from the Alabama Constitution, and serving as Alabama co-chair for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, a DNC delegate three times, and spokesperson for his 2012 reelection. She ran for U.S. House in 2024, finishing fourth in the primary. Coleman founded the Law Offices of Merika Coleman , focusing on family law, estate planning, and personal injury, and holds roles as Economic Justice Strategist at Greater Birmingham Ministries, Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Bessemer, and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Miles College.

Education and Political Experience

Education:

- JD, Birmingham School of Law

- Attended Miles Law School

- MPA, University of Alabama at Birmingham

- BA, Mass Communication, University of Alabama at Birmingham

- Attended Broadcast Journalism, Mississippi University for Women

Political Experience:

- Alabama State Senate, District 19 , 2022–present

- Alabama House of Representatives, District 57 , 2002–2022

- Candidate, U.S. House Alabama District 2, 2024

- Fleming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives, 2004

- Member, Center on Policy Alternatives ; Alabama Citizens Policy Project