The New York State Assembly is the lower chamber of the New York State Legislature. Alongside the New York State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the New York state government and works alongside the governor of New York to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the New York State Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.The New York State Assembly meets in the state capitol building in Albany, New York.Assembly District 106 includes parts of Columbia and Dutchess counties.
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Experience and Qualifications
Sam served as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, working in the Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Sex Crimes Bureaus. That work shaped his understanding of government’s role in people’s lives. He saw every day how institutions can either compound injustice or serve as a force for justice. Protecting the vulnerable, demanding accountability, and confronting broken systems have defined his career.
Community Involvement
For the past four years, Sam served as Chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee, flipping seats and delivering historic victories.
Education
Sam has degrees in History and Political Science, and is an attorney.
Campaign Phone
8162103067
Campaign Instagram
@samfornewyork
Sam Hodge is running for State Assembly because too many Hudson Valley families are working harder than ever and still falling behind. His campaign is centered on tackling the affordability crisis by lowering housing costs, expanding universal childcare, and guaranteeing healthcare as a human right through universal healthcare. Sam believes the wealthiest people and largest corporations must finally pay their fair share so New York can invest in the services families rely on. In one of the richest states in America, nobody should have to choose between paying rent, taking their child to daycare, or going to the doctor. Sam is running to bring bold, energetic leadership to Albany and fight for the big solutions this moment demands.
New York must treat climate change as both an existential threat and an affordability issue. We need bold investments in renewable energy, modernized infrastructure, public transit, resilient power grids, and energy-efficient housing to lower emissions and reduce costs for working families. We also need stronger protections against extreme weather, including flood mitigation, upgraded emergency response systems, and support for farmers and local communities impacted by climate-related disasters.
At the same time, we cannot allow corporations and utilities to profit while families face rising energy bills. New York should hold major polluters accountable and ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share to fund climate action. Addressing climate change is not just about preventing future harm, it is an investment in public health, economic stability, good-paying jobs, and the long-term future of communities across the Hudson Valley and New York State.
Promoting social and racial justice requires confronting the structural inequalities that leave too many New Yorkers behind. I support policies that expand access to affordable housing, universal healthcare, quality public education, and universal childcare, because economic justice and racial justice are deeply connected. We must also continue reforming the criminal legal system, protect voting rights, defend immigrant communities, and ensure equal treatment under the law regardless of race, gender, sexuality, disability, or zip code.
As a former prosecutor, I saw firsthand how unequal systems can shape people’s lives and opportunities. Government has a responsibility not just to punish injustice, but to actively dismantle barriers to opportunity. New York should lead with policies that invest in people, protect civil rights, and ensure every community has the resources and representation it deserves.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais is deeply troubling because it further weakens protections against racial discrimination in voting and redistricting. Gerrymandering is wrong, and the influence of money in politics has badly damaged public trust in our democracy. But Democrats also cannot continue to unilaterally disarm while Republicans aggressively use political power to entrench themselves across the country. New York must be willing to fight fire with fire.
I believe New York should strengthen voting rights, expand ballot access, and protect communities from voter suppression, while also eliminating the current independent redistricting system that has repeatedly put Democrats at a disadvantage. If Republicans are going to weaponize redistricting and undermine voting rights nationwide, New York must be prepared to defend fair representation and political power here at home.
