Sophie Sam
Division 1
Athlete
YOUR NEXT GOVERNOR
MEET SOPHIA EDUM-A-SAM
Fighting for California that works for everyone.
Immigrant
Daughter of
a Single Mother
"I watched my mother work tirelessly to raise three children on her own. People invested in us and I learned when we invest in people, California thrives."
Built success through opportunity and grit.
immigrant story
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Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, my mother brought my sisters and me to the United States when I was 9 years old. We had a church community that embraced us, social resources that educated me in its public schools, and showed me what community and Christianity really means. I faced challenges but built success through opportunity and grit.
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My family ended up being one of the lucky ones.
RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER
I grew up with a single mom who raised me, and we relied heavily on government assistance to survive. My family was on Medicaid. I went to public school. I grew up in Maryland, so there was a lottery system to get into a better school district. My family ended up being one of the lucky ones. I ended up in a good school district in Montgomery County, which was the wealthiest county in Maryland at the time. Having these resources in the system enabled me to be able to go to an Ivy League school with minimal debt. I am proof that when you invest in vulnerable people and vulnerable communities, they will come back and reinvest in the system that created them. It has been truly heartbreaking to see those systems that helped give me upward mobility and helped make me into the individual I am being dismantled federally today, and now they're working towards dismantling at the state and local levels.
Every credential I earned was powered by a community that believed in me.
education & career
I overcame barriers, earned degrees through grit, scholarships, and the belief that education changes everything. I was a Division 1 athlete at Cornell University and Ohio State University while balancing academics and life. I built a professional career in Landscape Architecture and later in public health and systems improvements, learning firsthand how broken our systems are, and how to fix them. Every credential I earned was powered by a community that believed in me.
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Struggle shaped my fight for access
MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLE IN COLLEGE
In college I struggled deeply with my mental health. There were days I didn't know how I would keep going. But I learned that asking for help, leaning on community, and building systems that actually support people isn't weakness, it's strength. That experience fuels my fight for mental health access in California.
Service-driven leadership for equitable change.
PUBLIC SERVICE WORK
I am committed to community, systems improvement, and helping vulnerable people. I worked with youth in my church and served as the lead of the 'Cities Connecting Children to Nature' network at Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. My faith teaches me that leadership is stewardship that we are called to serve, not to rule. I believe every person deserves dignity, access, and opportunity. That belief isn't just spiritual it's political. It's why I wake up every morning ready to fight for a California that works for everyone.
Regular people deserve to lead
THE REAL COST OF RUNNING
Going through the process of running for Governor showed me how inaccessible politics really is for regular people. The filing fees alone are almost $5,000. I gave up most of my savings to make this run possible because I truly believe people like me, immigrants, daughters of single mothers and everyday workers need to be in leadership positions. This campaign is proof that regular people can and must run.
Faith led me to serve.
FAITH & PURPOSE JOURNEY
Running for governor was a faith-led decision. I was feeling stuck in life and God told me to move and run for office. Guided by service, stewardship, and the belief that leadership should uplift everyone.
Affordability and dignity for all.
VISION FOR CALIFORNIA
I envision a California where affordability is a right, not a luxury. Where a family doesn't have to choose between rent and healthcare. Where young people can build a future here, not flee to other states. Where government works for people and not for politics. That's the California I'm running to build.
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