I am Sam Park, Representative of Georgia House District 101 AMA!

Since Medicare For All has been proven in recent studies to be cheaper than our current healthcare system while covering all the people currently without health insurance, what will you do to fight for it’s implementation?

As an incremental pragmatist, the first step for me to is to ensure all Georgians have health insurance - whether it be through public or private means. I ran for office to expand Medicaid after my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in 2014. She was given 4 to 6 months to live without chemotherapy, and two years with chemotherapy. Because of public health insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), she was able to live more than three years without pain before passing away earlier this year. I believe the opportunity she was blessed to have is the same opportunity every Georgian and American should have. So, I will continue to fight one step at a time until we have universal healthcare.

Do you feel that Georgia will go blue in the midterms?

Yes. I believe Georgia has the opportunity to turn blue, and elect Stacey Abrams, Sarah Riggs Amico and a slew of top-notch Democratic candidates across the state. Going back to 2012, in statewide races Democrats have fallen short on average anywhere between 200,000 to 250,000 votes. At the same time, there are more than 1.5 million eligible voters who lean Democrat. By investing in people-powered campaigns where we are doing the hard work of talking to voters at the doors, we have an opportunity to turn Georgia blue this year. If we turn out, we win.

How do you feel about what President Trump has accomplished? How do you think the next two years will play out after the midterms?

I am concerned about the direction Trump is taking our country, and disagree with many of the actions he’s taken including: undermining the Affordable Care Act, entering into a trade war, the deregulation of our financial institutions, repealing environmental protections, and the continued disparagement of immigrants in our country.

After the November elections, I hope we will have a U.S. Congress that holds accountable the executive branch as envisioned by our Founders.

Hey! So what’s your biggest goal?

Hey! Thanks for the question. My biggest legislative goal is to pass Medicaid expansion in Georgia. This would provide access to healthcare to more than 500,000 Georgians, and bring in billions of federal dollars to create more than 50,000 jobs in the healthcare sector and save our struggling rural hospitals.

What would you say is the most important part of the role that everyone might commonly overlook?

What is commonly unknown is that the role a state legislator plays has more of a direct impact on the lives of people on a daily basis compared to what occurs in the U.S. Congress. Every year, we pass laws that affect the healthcare, education, safety, and well-being of millions. Moreover, the US Constitution gives State legislatures the power to redistrict their state following the decennial census, which determines which party will be in power for the next decade.

What do you see as your biggest obstacle to winning?

Two years ago, at the age of 31, I unseated a three-term Republican chairwoman and became the first Asian American Democrat and first openly gay man elected to the Georgia General Assembly. I was able to do so by building a diverse, vibrant coalition. More than 25 percent of my district are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. Low voter turnout amongst millennials is the biggest challenge for my reelection campaign. In 2016, millennial voters were key to my success, and they will continue to play a vital role this time around.

Could you see yourself running for president in the elections to come?

Nah, I'm good. Thanks for asking though!

What are the biggest challenges facing your district and the biggest obstacle to its solution?

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

I represent Georgia House District 101, which is located in the heart of Gwinnett County, the 2nd largest and most diverse county in Georgia. This county was once a Republican stronghold before it turned blue in 2016. The biggest challenge my district faces is meeting the needs of a quickly changing demographic. Today, 80 to 90% of high school students in my district are Title I students. I am working to ensure they have the same educational and economic opportunities I was blessed to have.

How do we get young people to come out and vote in local elections? Also, what motivated you to become a politician at such a young age?

I believe if we want young people to come out and vote, we need to hear their concerns, respect their opinion, and demonstrate, by our actions, the importance of their vote. Our generation is faced with unique challenges including greater barriers to obtain higher education, limited economic opportunities relative to previous generations, and an uncertain political climate.

I decided to run for office at the age of 31 to hold my elected official accountable on issues related to healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration. History teaches us that every step forward begins with the courage of the next generation. From the march on Selma, to Black Lives Matter; from the Stonewall Riots to the fearlessness of Parkland students demanding gun safety, the next generation has always been the north star to lead us forward.