| I'm Gabriel Sanchez, born and raised in Cobb County to Colombian immigrants striving for a better future. I currently live in Smyrna with my partner Anna and my dog Winston. I'm a long-time community organizer and advocate for working people, and I'm ready to fight for you and your loved ones in the Georgia State House.
Where I Come From
I come from a family of fighters. From my parents, who taught me the value of compassion and standing up for what's right, to the strong women in my family, especially my Abuelas. My family's matriarchs grew up in poverty in their small town of Pijao, Colombia, and came to the US over 40 years ago. In the 1980s, they opened Mexico Lindo on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, where it still stands strong today. While they faced many challenges and prejudices adjusting to a new country, their bravery in overcoming these challenges is a huge part of what inspired me and my generation to dream even bigger.
Even as a kid, I was drawn to advocacy and social justice - guided by a strong desire to stand up for my community. But there were other major historical events and experiences that shaped my views and who I am today. My family lost everything in the 2008 recession. We almost moved to Colombia, but decided to move to Miami instead at the last minute. I didn't know it at the time, but their decision had to do with their immigration status. If we had moved to Colombia, it would have been very hard to come back to the US. So we squeezed our family of 5 into a small apartment in Miami. I remember feeling the weight of our situation at the time, being hyper-aware of prices and what we could afford. We always had reduced lunch at school growing up, but this was the first time I realized how important it was for my siblings and me. The people responsible for 2008 - Wall Street, the corporate elite, and the politicians they paid off - never faced the consequences of their actions. Working families like mine paid the price instead when we did nothing wrong. That's a lesson I'll never forget.
I didn't only learn about economic justice at that time. In 2011, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was brutally murdered by George Zimmerman. For me, he was more than a name - he was my classmate. He walked the same halls and ate lunch in the same cafeteria. He was a member of my community. His tragic murder showed me the real, material impact of systemic racism and oppression that Black and Brown people face in this country, in all aspects of life. That's when I knew the system was really broken, and that it would take all of us to organize and fight for a better, more just society.
Advocating for My Community
When Bernie Sanders first ran for president in 2016, he inspired a whole generation-including me-to believe that a better, more democratic society was possible. Soon after his candidacy, I got into local politics, working for Democratic Representatives Sam Park and Park Cannon in the Georgia State House. This experience in the State House taught me that dedicated progressives who work to uplift community voices can have a real impact. When it comes to state politics, we need more diverse, progressive voices at the table and a strong grassroots movement behind us.
That's why I've also worked with everyday Georgians to fight for voting rights, reproductive justice, and housing for all. That's why I've shown up to the picket line with striking workers, advocated for worker's rights, and spoke out at school board meetings against book bans and bigotry in our public schools. That's why I organized with the Latino community to advocate for driver's licenses for all and help immigrants apply for citizenship, and why I worked with the Democratic Party to help flip Georgia blue in 2020. I want to continue this work in and outside the Georgia Capitol, and build a movement of working-class people to fight for the rights we deserve.
Why I'm Running
Through my community organizing work, I've come to learn what issues matter most to everyday working people like me. Housing insecurity is real and felt by so many in our community. Young people like me can't afford to buy a home, and rent increases dramatically every year. Without guaranteed parental leave, my partner and I will face hard career choices if we want to start a family. And I know I'm not the only one who dreads going to the doctor, fearing surprise medical bills and costly prescription drugs. Too many people are struggling to pay the bills despite working 40 hours a week, or often more than that. In the wealthiest country in the world, it should not be this hard to get by. Working families deserve a system that works for them and a real voice in the State Capitol.
I would not be where I am today without my family. They taught me that it's our collective responsibility to build a better world for future generations. Change is possible when working people work together, and when I'm elected State Representative, I plan to bring the community along every step of the way. It's time to stop accepting the status quo and start working together to fight for the change we deserve. |