ABOUT ME

I'm a 27 year old mother running for Congress.

I'm running for Congress because WE NEED representation. There has been a lack of new, bold, and transparent government and leadership in politics.

The Mota-Reynoso Family

Our so-called leaders make careers out of being politicians instead of being passionate and prideful public service members.

For too long, they have remained silent, complacent, and compromised to the issues that affect their constituents. And, have sold their souls to money and special interests like private equity investors.

That's why I'm running.

To break barriers built by those meant to lead, not bar. I will be a builder of bridges by bettering accessibility, affordability, and equity in politics to increase participation, foster trust, and to reduce corruption and abuse of power. As your congresswomen, I pledge to advocate for community-funding and generate policies and legislation that undo the betrayal that have left our communities, neighborhoods, and nation abandoned and broken.

Hi, I'm Sam.

I was born and raised in the County of Los Angeles in a rent-controlled unit. I grew up in a single-family household where my family relied on WIC and SNAP benefits, medicaid, and other programs to survive

I wasn't always into politics until high school. My environmental and U.S. history teacher got me aware, engaged and interested towards the path of activism: to be a strong, passionate contender in the world of injustice. After I graduated, I attended Santa Monica College for Political Science where I was sat in front of a screen and told to analyze political movies. I was 18 at the time and knew I could do more in the community I love and grew up in.

So, I joined Climate Action Santa Monica, a locally-based, grassroots org. that empowers youth to find and demand solutions to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. And, I started guerilla gardening in a vacant lot where I used to play in as a kid. Guerilla gardening is an act of protest by growing plants on unauthorized lands as a means to reclaim community spaces, beautify our neighborhoods, combat food insecurity, and to raise awareness of the need for restoring and reforming environmental policies and legislation.

With a shovel and some seeds, I slowly started to build a garden for the community. And, that is where my activism began.

Then, it flourished into championing for the City of Santa Monica to incorporate Assembly Bill 551 into their ordinances to enhance resilience through local food production and reduction of waste. Through this, we were able to get the City Lobbyist to support the bill and move it forward to a vote for implementation. Because of my advocacy, the community nominated me as the recipient of the Premio de Orgullo Award for Hispanic Heritage Month for expanding urban agriculture in our communities.

I later became a Commissioner of the Santa Monica Public Safety and Reform Oversight Commission where our role was to review and propose new law enforcement reforms and policies. It was created in the wake of national and community-wide calls for racial justice, and during the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many others. Our first task was to examine, discuss, and assess the OIR Group Report/Findings and SMPD response concerning the May 31, 2020 events. The overall goal was to better assert civilian, democratic authority over the police department and to develop a professional and independent relationship with SMPD.

In 2022, I burned out because after working for 6 years to increase green spaces, I felt like it was for nothing and change wasn't happening quick enough. And to top it off, I had to move from the city I loved and grew up in, to Baldwin Hills, a place I had no roots or connection because it was unaffordable elsewhere. Not that it's really affordable now. My husband and I struggle to make ends meet, but, we make it work and are happy.

When I moved to Baldwin Hills, I saw the disparities and inequality everywhere I walked.

The Representatives of this community have left it mismanaged and neglected and have kept voices of entire neighborhoods unheard. That is why I'm running, because we NEED a new and fierce voice who will fix our government and leadership to ensure the issues locally and nationally are addressed and resolved. Not a politician who will claim to be for the people but back stab them by taking money from from special interests. I could never and would never sell my soul for some cash all the while leaving the people in the dust and never building a bridge to build our communities, neighborhoods and nation.