# Sam Arora > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Arora > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Arora.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Arora > Source revision: 1346549251 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (born 1981)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sam Arora | native_name = ਸੈਮ ਅਰੋੜਾ | image = 1arora.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|01|09}} | birth_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 19th | term_start = January 12, 2011 | term_end = January 13, 2015 | predecessor = [Henry B. Heller](/source/Henry_B._Heller) | successor = [Maricé Morales](/source/Maric%C3%A9_Morales) | party = [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | occupation = Community advocate and businessman | majority = | relations = | partner = | website = [http://www.samarora.com samarora.com] | footnotes = }} '''Sam Arora''' ([Punjabi](/source/Punjabi_language): ਸੈਮ ਅਰੋੜਾ; born January 9, 1981) is an American businessman and [politician](/source/Politics_of_the_United_States) from [Montgomery County, Maryland](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Maryland). A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), Arora was elected to the [Maryland House of Delegates](/source/Maryland_House_of_Delegates) in 2010, representing the state's 19th district. He was sworn into office on January 12, 2011. He announced in 2013 that he would not seek reelection to a second term.{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/del-arora-announces-he-wont-seek-re-election-to-maryland-house-of-delegates/2013/11/01/a99fa556-4356-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_story.html |title=Del. Arora announces he won't seek re-election to Maryland House of Delegates |first=John |last=Wagner |newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post) |date=November 1, 2013 |publisher=[WPC](/source/Washington_Post_Company) |location=[Washington DC](/source/Washington%2C_DC) |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=February 21, 2015}} ==Early life and career== Arora's parents are [Punjabis](/source/Punjabis) who immigrated from [New Delhi, India](/source/New_Delhi%2C_India) to the United States in the 1970s, settling in [Montgomery County, Maryland](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_Maryland). They moved to New York City for several years, where Arora was born, and they returned to Maryland in 1982. He attended [the Barrie School](/source/the_Barrie_School), where he was student body president and graduated [salutatorian](/source/salutatorian).{{cite news|url=http://www.barrie.org/news/index.aspx?NEWSPID=4|title=Barrie School News|work=[The Barrie School](/source/The_Barrie_School)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228004938/http://www.barrie.org/news/index.aspx?NEWSPID=4|archive-date=2010-12-28}} He earned a bachelor's degree ''cum laude'' from [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University), where he was a founder of the Columbia Political Union,{{cite news|url= http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2004/10/18/fresh-degrees-students-work-dnc|title=Fresh Off Degrees, Students Work For DNC|work=[Columbia Daily Spectator](/source/Columbia_Daily_Spectator)}} and a [J.D.](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from [Georgetown University Law Center](/source/Georgetown_University_Law_Center), where he was president of the [student bar association](/source/student_bar_association).{{cite news|url=http://www.law.georgetown.edu/sba/documents/SBA2009SpringElectionResults.pdf|title=Election Results|work=Georgetown Law Student Bar Association}} Arora currently is Vice President for Business Development of the Arora Group, a health care services firm that primarily serves the Department of Defense and U.S. Coast Guard. ==Political career== {{Recentism|section|date=February 2012}} Arora began working in 1999 as an intern and briefly as a staff assistant to U.S. Senator [Carl Levin](/source/Carl_Levin) (D-MI) before moving to New York to attend Columbia University, where he began interning on the exploratory campaign for then-First Lady [Hillary Clinton](/source/Hillary_Clinton) and later in her Senate office. He served as an aide to [Democratic National Committee](/source/Democratic_National_Committee) chair [Terry McAuliffe](/source/Terry_McAuliffe) during the 2003-2004 election cycle before returning to work for Sen. Clinton's campaign committee for Clinton's 2006 re-election campaign and part of her 2008 presidential primary campaign. Arora also served as a legal clerk to Maryland Attorney General [Douglas F. Gansler](/source/Douglas_F._Gansler) and in the criminal appellate division of the U.S. Attorney's Office.{{cite news|url=http://www.gazette.net/votersguide2010/montgomery/candidates/arora_sam.php|title=2010 voters' guide: Sam Arora|work=[The Gazette](/source/The_Gazette_(Maryland))}} ===Same-sex marriage=== Arora ran for the Maryland House of Delegates on a platform of support for [same-sex marriage in Maryland](/source/same-sex_marriage_in_Maryland) and co-sponsored a bill allowing it early in the 2011 session. A similar bill was filed in the Maryland Senate (SB 116-Civil Marriage Protection Act){{cite web|title=SENATE BILL 116|url=http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/SB0116.htm|publisher=Maryland General Assembly|access-date=5 March 2011}} and was assigned to the House Judiciary committee, the committee on which Arora serves. In early March 2011, Arora began backpedaling on his support for the legislation, removing references to his earlier enthusiasm for same-sex marriage from his campaign's [Twitter](/source/Twitter) account and privately telling the bill's sponsor, [Del. Kumar Barve](/source/Kumar_P._Barve), that he would vote against it once it reached the House floor.{{cite web|last=Najafi|first=Yusef|title=Arora Flip "a Shock"|url=http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=6053|work=Metro Weekly|access-date=5 March 2011}}{{cite web|last=Aravosis|first=John|title=Sam Arora deletes Twitter post of 1 month ago supporting marriage equality|url=http://gay.americablog.com/2011/03/arora-deletes-twitter-post-of-1-month.html|work=AMERICAblog|access-date=5 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305175420/http://gay.americablog.com/2011/03/arora-deletes-twitter-post-of-1-month.html|archive-date=5 March 2011}} This abrupt reversal angered many of Arora's supporters in [progressive](/source/Progressivism_in_the_United_States) and [gay rights](/source/Gay_rights_in_the_United_States) circles, prompting several to express disappointment and requests to refund their campaign donations.{{cite news|last=Capehart|first=Jonathan|title=Sam Arora's disgraceful wavering on marriage equality in Maryland|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/03/_around_9_am_today.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045613/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/03/_around_9_am_today.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2012|access-date=5 March 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=3 March 2011}} After several days, Arora again changed his position, announcing on his website that he would formally support the measure so voters could decide the issue in a referendum.{{cite web|last=Arora|first=Sam|title=Statement on SB 116 (Same-Sex Marriage Bill)|url=http://www.samarora.com/node/353|work=SamArora.com|access-date=5 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307091235/http://www.samarora.com/node/353|archive-date=7 March 2011}} During the House Judiciary committee voting session on SB 116, Arora did not participate in the vote for the bill. SB 116 was approved by the committee 12-10 and was to be forwarded to the full House of Delegates for final approval.{{cite news|last=Wagner|first=John|title=House panel passes same-sex marriage bill|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/03/house_panel_passes_same-sex_ma.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427033441/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/03/house_panel_passes_same-sex_ma.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 27, 2011|access-date=5 March 2011|newspaper=Washington Post|date=4 March 2011}} Arora voted against civil marriage rights for same-sex couples when the full House of Delegates voted in the following year on February 17, 2012. The legislation passed, 72–67.{{cite web|title=House Bill 438;Third Reading Passed (72-67)|url=http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/hb0438.htm|publisher=Maryland General Assembly|access-date=19 February 2012}} Arora had reportedly been lobbied that same day by Maryland Governor [Martin O'Malley](/source/Martin_O'Malley), Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement, [Kal Penn](/source/Kal_Penn), former President [Bill Clinton](/source/Bill_Clinton) (whose wife, [Hillary](/source/Hillary_Clinton), Arora used to work for), and longtime [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) party leader and advisor [Terry McAuliffe](/source/Terry_McAuliffe) who all supported the law.{{cite news|last=Geidner|first=Chris|title=Maryland House of Delegates Passes Marriage Equality Bill, 72-67|url=http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2012/02/breaking-maryland-house-of-del-1.html|access-date=17 February 2012|newspaper=Metro Weekly|date=17 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218205543/http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2012/02/breaking-maryland-house-of-del-1.html|archive-date=18 February 2012}}{{cite news |last=Terkel |first=Amanda |url=https://twitter.com/aterkel/status/170631599115866113 |title=Heard that Bill Clinton, Terry McAuliffe called up Sam Arora... |work=Twitter |access-date=17 February 2012 |date=17 February 2012}} Arora has not given any explanation for why he reversed his position from co-sponsoring a marriage equality bill to opposing it. ==2010 primary election== Arora ran for a delegate seat in the three-member 19th district, where he grew up. The district includes the Montgomery County communities of [Silver Spring](/source/Silver_Spring%2C_Maryland), [Wheaton](/source/Wheaton%2C_Maryland), [Leisure World](/source/Leisure_World%2C_Maryland), Northwood, Four Corners, [Aspen Hill](/source/Aspen_Hill%2C_Maryland), [Kemp Mill](/source/Kemp_Mill%2C_Maryland), [Olney](/source/Olney%2C_Maryland), [Derwood](/source/Derwood%2C_Maryland), [Laytonsville](/source/Laytonsville%2C_Maryland) and unincorporated areas of [Rockville](/source/Rockville%2C_Maryland) and [Gaithersburg](/source/Gaithersburg%2C_Maryland). Incumbents [Roger Manno](/source/Roger_Manno) and [Henry B. Heller](/source/Henry_B._Heller) had decided against seeking reelection, creating two open seats in the 19th. Six Democrats filed for delegate and, in the Democratic primary election held on September 14, Arora won a place on the Democratic ticket for the general election along with incumbent [Benjamin F. Kramer](/source/Benjamin_F._Kramer) and [Bonnie Cullison](/source/Bonnie_Cullison).{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2010/results/Primary/StateResults_office_016_district_19.html|title=Maryland State Board of Elections: 2010 primary election results}} :{| class="wikitable" |- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ben Kramer |7,603 |  26.3% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bonnie Cullison |6,083 |  21.1% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Sam Arora''' |'''5,767''' |  '''20.0%''' |   '''Won''' |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jay Hutchins |4,559 |  15.8% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Hoan Dang |3,277 |  11.3% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Vivian Scretchen |1,600 |  5.5% |   Lost |} ==2010 general election== In the general election, the three Democratic nominees faced two Republican candidates, and the Democratic team won in a landslide with Arora placing second.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2010/results/General/StateResults_office_016_district_19.html|title=Maryland State Board of Elections: 2010 general election results}} :{| class="wikitable" |- !Name !Votes !Percent !Outcome |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ben Kramer, Democrat |23,526 |  25.8% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Sam Arora, Democrat''' |'''22,242''' |  '''24.4%''' |   '''Won''' |- |- {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bonnie Cullison, Democrat |21,795 |  23.9% |   Won |- |- {{Party shading/Republican}} |Linn Rivera, Republican |11,929 |  13.1% |   Lost |- |- {{Party shading/Republican}} |Tom Masser, Republican |11,362 |  12.5% |   Lost |} ==Personal== In 2006, Arora was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" on Capitol Hill by ''The Hill'' newspaper, which wrote that he "bears an uncanny resemblance to actor [Ben Stiller](/source/Ben_Stiller)."{{cite web|url=http://www.ivygateblog.com/2006/07/dc-50-most-beautiful-list-appears-ivies-conspicuously-absent/|title=D.C. 50 Most Beautiful List Appears, Ivies Conspicuously Absent|work=IvyGate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122113759/http://www.ivygateblog.com/2006/07/dc-50-most-beautiful-list-appears-ivies-conspicuously-absent/|archive-date=2016-11-22}} The 2010 election of Arora and [Aruna Miller](/source/Aruna_Miller) along with the re-election of Majority Leader [Kumar P. Barve](/source/Kumar_P._Barve) made Maryland the first state in the United States to elect more than one Indian American to a state legislature.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=2641&sid=1|title=Barve, Arora, Miller Capture Maryland Statehouse Seats|work=India West|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216022528/http://indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=2641&Sid=1|archive-date=2010-12-16}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100516173100/http://www.samarora.com/ Campaign website] * {{C-SPAN|9275053}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Arora, Sam}} Category:1981 births Category:American politicians of Indian descent Category:American people of Punjabi descent Category:Asian-American state legislators in Maryland Category:Columbia University alumni Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:Politicians from Silver Spring, Maryland Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Arora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Arora) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Arora?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.