The son of the former Margie Beth Barnett and her husband Maxwell Allen Sandlin, Max Sandlin is a graduate of Baylor University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and named Outstanding Young Alumni, and Baylor University School of Law, where he was a member of the National Championship Mock Trial Team.

"[6] The Democratic Caucus and leadership often called upon Sandlin's coalition-building skills and U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) noted "We've always looked for a way to build that bridge [between liberals and centrists].

"[7] The Austin American-Statesman added that "Sandlin's a versatile campaigner, equally at home with Unitarians as he is in a roomful of good ol' boys."

[8] Sandlin was a primary target of the Republican 2003 re-redistricting process orchestrated by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX).

Sandlin denounced the reconfiguring of his district, calling it an illegal and unconstitutional effort to dilute and eliminate the voices of rural and minority voters.