From Norway to New Mexico: Sarah Hetemi’s Journey to the American Dream

Yep, we are the second largest oil producer in the U.S., and we share that with taxes.

Yep, we don't look anything like taxes.

“And that's the shame, so we're going to change that.”

We're going to make sure that folks who want to represent the best interests of new Mexicans and Mexico are the ones who get up and have their voices heard. So we're going to cut taxes, defend the oil and gas industry that's great in jobs and revenue. We're going to hopefully improve education, so I know it is one of the worst states for

public education. It is actually ranked the bottom, nine years in the row, and math and rating, which is horrible, horrible, but we have no choice. And so we need to include some options in there, and so the goodness with the Mexico

is we have nowhere to go, but up.

Let's tell of the act of to investigate. Yeah. Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so. This is American Potential.

Welcome to the American Potential Podcast. I'm your host, David from. So for the past number of months, we've been talking about Americans for prosperity's one small step campaign. And what they campaign talks about is, what's that one action, that one step, that

ordinary Americans have taken in the past and continued to take in order to transform and make a difference in their community, their state, their nation. And really, I have altered history. We look back at the founding fathers, and what's the smallest that they took to just change the course of really world history and build this nation.

So we have a great opportunity right now at our American prosperity, all staff meeting, where we gather together with hundreds of our staff members throughout the nation to talk

“about what are the priorities for Americans for prosperity in the future?”

How can we try to change our nation for the better? And also to have a good time with one another. But one of the nice byproducts of that is we have so many people here who work for Americans for prosperity, who have taken that step and actually have dedicated their lives, their career to changing the public policy and the politics in their state nation community.

So I'm super excited to have a guest who is a really interesting story and got involved at a young age and as kind of, you know, got across oceans in different states to try to make that change. So I'm really pleased to welcome our AFP New Mexico State Director, Sarah Hatemi. Thank you so much, David. I'm so excited to be on my favorite podcast the full time.

That'll score points all the time. Nice. All right. So some people will detect that you have a slight accent. Yeah. And so you were not born in America.

“And I think Kishan really said, so tell me a little bit about, like, where were you born?”

Where'd you grow up and what was that like? Absolutely. So I was raised in Norway, but let's take it a step back. My parents, because I don't look very Norwegian. My parents are Eastern European. They grew up in Kosovo and I believe they loved that, but together, they wanted to pursue a little bit more of a modern life and I like to think

of it as their pursuit of the American dream, although they didn't end up in the US. And so they had a very young age and decided to move out of Kosovo together, luckily a few years before, you know, war broke loose in that region. So I'm really grateful for that. And on their way to Norway, they stopped in Sweden, that was really where they were trying

to integrate first. And so it was born in Sweden for, and we hung out there for a short six months, and then they continued over to North Norway, and they got on the process to get their citizenship and maybe became Norwegians.

Well, I've always, I mean, as I've repeated a gazillion times, as someone who's 100% Norwegian

by ethnicity, when I met you, I was like, "Oh my gosh, you're Norwegian. This is amazing. I'm so excited. What about all these words I grew up saying?" And you're like, "No, that's not really a thing." Anyway, that's a lot more. That's kind of. So tell me about what it was like growing up in Norway. So take me through, like, you know, elementary school all the way through high school. What do you think about

it? What it was like? Absolutely. I mean, I absolutely love Norway. For a moment, I was actually confused. I didn't know. I wasn't Norwegian. You know, when you're a kid, you don't think about these things. And my parents were hardcore into assimilation. They spoke Norwegian at home, which, you know, now, looking back, I'm so impressed. I'm like, "How hard is that?" They both spoke Albanian.

That's their native tongue. So to speak Norwegian at home, was all in their sacrifice to

around fifth grade or so of as little slow took me some time. I realized that I wasn't, you know, Norwegian. I was in Norwegian, but, but a class of Albanian by blood. And that was a huge realization for me. And yeah, so it was amazing. But I was in an immigrant child. So with that, I helped my mom read letters from the bank. I helped science, certain things, and things like that. But otherwise, it was wonderful. So obviously, you know, when it's kind of an even country, you get a good

education, you know, I know Norway is kind of a community-based place. You know, values family.

“You know, I, I, um, much smaller than US, what is like 9 million people or something?”

Uh, a little less. Really? Okay. So very small country. Um, I forget that it's between five and seven million somewhere there. Um, but it's a very community-based, very, very family-oriented. That was probably one of my favorite things. Everyone has a pretty solid good education. Now, again, there's not options, um, like in the US, right? So everything's a little bit more

state-based, um, and I was just always drawn to free markets. So, well, yeah, talk to me about what,

so, how did you end up in America? Like, what, when you're in Norway, what was your thought process? And then, what did you do to bring you to America? Yeah. So, I, I had a great life in Norway, right? I, I, I loved my friends. I was getting into the college. I had a great boyfriend. Um, all the right things were, were happening, but I was always a little bothered by the fact that I felt like reaching excellence was, was, was near and possible. Even if you were excellent,

I thought, like, there was something restrictive there, or reaching failure was really, really hard. So, maybe they safety net was a little better there. And I was always drawn to free markets to

“American principles and ideas, and I think part of that journey that my parents started”

of, of trying to find their version of the American dream and kind of living a more going for a more modern life. I, I wanted to maybe just pursue that a little further and see what could I do. I love the idea of that, that you actually wanted the chance to fail. Yeah. That's such a, I think for an 18 year old, that's a difficult realization to have. I think a lot of people would like 18, especially in at 38 and at 58 probably want an easy life a lot of times. So,

I give you parents a lot of credit for actually somehow probably instilling that in you. I mean, talk to me a little more about that. Absolutely. And I will say, people give me too much credit. They're like, wow, you were so brave. How did you do that? And I'm like, well, when you're 18, one, you're not quite a smart, right? So, I didn't have much forethoughts. I wouldn't, I wouldn't know. I would have no way of knowing how hard it actually was to become an American, right? And to

move away from your country. I feel like in itself, although I don't have a degree, I feel like it's a degree to have to have, like, kind of navigated the systems and processes and, and then become my own person. But I knew when I moved at 18, because I have loving sweet parents, that if I absolutely failed

here, I had a safety net. I could go back home. And then I did fail many times over, but I never

wanted to go back home. Every time I failed, it was just so exciting and something. I never really had a chance to do in the same way in Norway, which was nice. You know, I had a really good safe upbringing, but I love what I've been able to do. So you immigrated to the US, and, but you didn't go to Texas, or New York, like tell me, tell me that strikes it's a whole nother interesting place. Yeah, so there was some strategy, some fear involved, so I didn't want to go to a Texas,

or a New York, or a Florida, where there's millions of people, right, who probably already have amazing value, or more value to add than I did. So I thought, okay, we need a small community. We need a community that's a little patient that wants to give the Sarah a chance and work with my accent, and let me become an American slowly but surely. So I picked Alaska, because I had one

“friend in Alaska, and one friend is sometimes all you need to get started. And then Alaska was”

incredible to me at a very community, community-oriented place. It's wonderful. And I just follow them up. Not with the weather, but with the people and the freedom and the opportunities

that I was given there. Well, I've always thought that the quality of Alaska and the love

that the weather sucks usually. So people still want to be there around everybody, still want to

“spend their time there. The people really must be pretty amazing. Although it isn't pretty”

breathtaking place in his moments. It is, and I will say, the best summers in the world are in Alaska. If they're not raining, so it's the most magical place on earth. So you're in Alaska, you're a teen and you move, which I mean, is still unbelievable. I got a kid in high school right now is 18. And he barely drives a car. But so then you move and you start to get involved, you're doing school. But what turns you towards your career in politics and public policy? You might ask,

what was my one small step? Oh, we need to go. I guess thinking about it, you know, other than moving here, which was the big step. Not this small, but being in college, there were the college Republicans. And Republican women's club in Anchorage. And to me, that was a really foreign concept at that time. Like one, it wasn't very popular to have very political opinions in our way. That was a little strange, especially that young. And then I was in that familiar with groups like

that. That was quite a thing. So I was a little reluctant to join, but I did, because they kept pursuing a friendship with me over anything else. Really. And it was the greatest thing I did, because from there, other opportunities opened up. And let's start it out this friendship. I got to hear about, oh, there's this cool job being a page in in Juneau at the Capitol. I'm like, what is what is a page? Is it a page in the book? No, it's this cool, this cool assistance

on the Senate floor, the House floor. And that was my first kind of intro to the process.

And the U.S. And from there, I became a little obsessed maybe. You know, I just was really into how can I fit into this picture and how can I help shape things? So you're a teenager from Norway who now is a page in the Alaska legislature. And for those who don't know, I mean, you know,

“is a little unique that like you have to fly or take a boat to it. I mean, it's not like you just”

drive to the Capitol in Alaska. It's by itself and it rains all the freaking time there, by the way. As you will know, but it's isolated and Alaska and take their, and it's extremely foggy. I just, yeah, it's extremely foggy. So it's one of those really tough capital to do a fly in if you want to bring your advocates or citizens to see your legislator as well. I mean, you might have to divert over to SITKA or catch a can for a night, told the fog clears. So it's kind of wild. There's

probably a metaphor somewhere in there about Alaska politics. But, but, but, but Alaska's take their politics seriously and like the legislature's a big deal there. And so I think so as an immigrant teenager really, you're now working in the legislature. What was that like when you're intimidated or it sounds like you were you found it exhilarating? I mean, of course, I was a little intimidated,

but I was so humbled and and felt so blast and and really accepted by Americans. I have never found

more accepting people in my life. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and you know, back then I know I sounded strange. I could barely pronounce half the names and you know what, they thought it was endearing. They worked with me. They enjoyed that and it was such a good experience for me to see that I didn't have to know it all and there was still a place to to grow from. So you have this great experience as a page and then you went further in politics in Alaska and

eventually ended up with Americans' prosperity, which we're thrilled about. So tell me about how

“you ended up coming to meet up with AFP and what was your experience working with AFP?”

Yeah, so I did a couple of off things here and there before AFP came to town, worked on some campaigns that were really exciting. Issue campaigns trying to protect our oil and gas and whatnot in in Alaska and then they heard Americans for prosperity was coming to town and I thought, wow, this is a big deal for Alaska. I mean, we don't have any other organization like that and that that could make it a break. It's for Alaska and so I just thought, I want to be part of this,

I want to help and that's all I was after. So I just started helping volunteering for a long time. Volunteered at the doors, volunteered with painting the walls, all sorts of things and then one day

I became a paid door knocker which I was surprised they decided to pay me at first because my first

door I ran away, you know? I was intimidating, I mean, and now I eat doors, so you know,

what was the first chapter in Alaska. Yeah, well and it's been a sustained thing. I mean,

the chapter has been really impactful in Alaska. You know, I actually believe that you as now as a state director, you're the first person to go from part-time door knocker which we call a

“a grassroots associate to a state director, leading a state. So yeah, yeah, I think that's a”

it's a great progression. I think it's a it's such an authentic path that you walk down. I think it's pretty cool. So you see, we're going to say the grassroots engagement director, you're meeting all the you know, the political folks and the legislators and organizing community in Alaska and with with a fair amount of success. I mean, I know that you were one of the most successful wrestlers against directors we had. Thank you. And then eventually we're the deputy state director.

So you know, what was your time when you were working in Alaska for the last five years or so? What would you think of doing that? I thought I thought it was amazing and I had a real chance of one. I learned so many, so many different things, right? Sometimes we think elected officials and people are more than people. And I learned that everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time. So that really excited me. And then there's space for everyone. And I also saw that it actually

doesn't take that much. It does, but not all that much to to start a movement to get people involved. And that, you know, one voice becomes five voices. Those five voices become 15. Those 15 become 25.

And now always bet on regular people over anyone else. And I saw it's a great change for that.

Yeah, I mentioned that you were a very successful grassroots engagement director. And in our company, those are the community organizers. The folks who recruit volunteers, activists, and train them, and help them take action to get other people involved. And contact legislators, or, you know, knock-on doors, whatever we're looking to do. So haven't been successful with that. And, you know, really brought hundreds of people not more into the organization.

What would you say to people who are, you know, sitting, listening to the podcast here on their couch, or driving somewhere, and like, I care about my community, my state, my country. I'm concerned about it. But I don't really know if I could get involved. I don't have the time.

I don't really know what it's about. It's old intimidating to me. I'm sure you've had that

conversation with tons of people. Yeah, it feels so intimidating, right? It feels like anything in life. Like people who don't go to the gym. They think, oh, no, how do I start? It seems intimidating. And this, you just start. And then it's then it becomes easier. There's so many ways to be involved. And there's a way for everyone, whether you are the person who wants to be seen. Then, then you can. You know, if you go testify in person, you can talk to legislators.

But perhaps you are more behind the scenes. Maybe, maybe you're the person who organizes everyone. Maybe you're the nurturer. Maybe you're the glue to the group, you know? Or perhaps you're the one who helps everyone figure out how to best share their story or maybe you're the connector. And you have a good network with legislators. So there's so many ways

“to be a part of something. And I think it's important to look outside of ourselves.”

At least otherwise you don't get to complain, right? You've got to do something to complain and voting. It's just a very, very least of that. I think we make it so easy to come in and already have that group, already have your like-minded friends and tools and tactics behind you. So you don't have to be alone. You don't have to face intimidation, right? We could just do this together. Well, one of the things I was able to observe with the

cropping Alaska is that the truly community of people who like each other, like socially, like they hang out. They have drinks together. They're, you know, they're making phone calls. They're, you know, going to events and, and we got the church together. Right. Yes. Yeah. There's a community there of people taking action to try to affect their, their state and their community, but it, it's, it's not just like, ah, I got to be here to try to do this. Like, no,

I'm excited to go see the people that I really like hanging out with. Exactly. That's

“I think it's the way to do it authentically. So then a change came a little bit, two years ago,”

for you, where you went to possibly the state that might be one of the ones that's the least like Alaska that we brought you went down to take leadership of our new Mexico chapter. The land of enchantment. The land of enchantment. Yes. You know, I, I was involved in that, because it's, it's in my region and, you know, we identified a need for a leader to come in there and kind of change some things. The chapter I think it was not being as effective as it could be

in terms of trying to have an influence on a very difficult political landscape in New Mexico.

a lot of the radical ideology is just really making a lot of headway and still still is to some degree. And so it seems like a place where Americans prosperity can and should be putting up an opposition and organizing kind of what I'd say like the rational middle and the right to kind of say, hey, this, this radical stuff is not the direction that we want to go. So tall, tall order for come down to the land of enchantment and get involved. So why did you want to go to New Mexico?

And what was your initial thoughts, as you started to engage there? Well, I think, I think it's

“safe to say it's no secret that I like a challenge. So I think I had reached a place in my life.”

I was, was we're ready for a challenge and I was looking for what could that next challenge be? It had been, you know, over 10 years since I had done something crazy in my life. And in the big, in the big way. And this was in need, you know, that came up. And here I am, ready for a challenge. I thought let's, let's try, let's do it. I had no idea how it would go. But I knew that, you know, all of what I had learned and worked toward, I would be able to apply

in the land of enchantment. And from there, we would go. And so it has turned out to be one of the greatest things I've done. I, I moved there in May of 2024. And we decided to have we politically engaged something, the previous chapter hadn't necessarily done for whatever reason. And we got involved in eight legislative campaigns and the congressional campaign as well. And we won six out of those eight legislative races. Yeah, that was a great year.

And we weren't even a full team then. I mean, now, now we're cooking. Now they're six of us. Now we're cooking with gas. We have a full full team. But back then, it was kind of like, can we do this? And when we did with all the odds against us, now that was inspiring. Well, I will tell you, because I have some particular insight here. The team that you've built is really a strong team. They're growing and they're coming into their own. But I mean, we have

like Bobby Curtis, for instance, is nominated as basically the GD of the year. She's one of the finalists.

And so we'll find out later a few days here at all staff. If she wins that, but she's certainly deserving, and she's just one of the best grassroots engagement directors. I'm obviously biased.

“But I think she is the best one that I've ever seen. So yeah, there's another great team.”

People like Jeremy Armstrong and Chris Martinez and Kiran Hill. I mean, there's J.D. who came into this deputy are really transformed the state. And we throw on the word transformation sometimes in this organization. It's, you know, change. But in this case, there's been nothing short of real transformation that I remember when I sat down before you were leading the chapter. We were looking at like, what can we do differently? We sat down with the legislative

leadership of the Republican Party, the House, you know, when I already leader with some other key members. And they were like, yeah, we don't really believe you're guys are going to do what you say. And they were like, we don't think you're good partners. You know, I was surprised to the

hostility to be just be frank. And we basically said, well, okay, let us prove to you that we'll be

good partners. And that's one of our, you know, our key concepts is we want to be a preferred partner

“to somebody and have a mutually beneficial relationship. And I think we've all thrown that.”

I really do. So I think, you know, by getting above in those races, being there, they needed it. And then following up in the legislative session to prove that we're going to still be there and try to, you know, bring activists to the Capitol to make the voice heard way in on different issues to really, you know, where we had common values and common positions. I think that really forged a very different, really transformed the relationship that we had with, with natural allies

in the state. And frankly, that's a, you know, a duty or leadership. Thank you, well, I got a lot of help in the lots of partners along the way there to make that happen. And so, yeah, I'm really excited about what we've been able to do. And, you know, it's, it was so quick following and love with the Mexico. I think it is one of the most underrated states and one of the better states. There is. We have the best seasons in the world. I mean, you get all four, but you're not dealing

with elements of over three hundred and ten days of sunshine. Everyone likes vitamin D. And apparently makes a huge difference in your life. Or I might have been deprived of my whole life

in the way and Alaska. But it's amazing. We have the best food. We have the best people.

The only thing we don't have as politics that, that don't reflect new Mexicans, interests, or

change the leadership that we have in the states so that it is more reflective of what makes

“sense really care about and what's good for them. And I think we'd unleash so much of potential”

of the folks who live there to prove their lives so much. So going back, when you look, well, when you look ahead in New Mexico, yeah, what are you excited about? And where do you want the state to go? I'm excited about truly restoring a voice to New Mexicans. New Mexicans deserve more. You know, a lot of people don't know that New Mexico is pretty well off the state itself.

It sits on over $70 billion dollars and permanent funds all from oil and gas. So the state

is not needing for money. However, New Mexicans are some of the poorest per capita. They're highly taxed. We sit with the gross receipts tax. We sit with the social security tax. We sit with an income tax. While all the states around us are thriving, yet we are the second largest oil producer in the US. And we share that with Texas. Yeah, we don't look anything like Texas. And that's the shame. So we're going to change that. We're going to, we're going to make sure

that folks who want to represent the best interests of New Mexicans and the Mexico are the ones who get up and have their voices heard. So we're going to cut taxes, defend the oil and gas industry

that's creating jobs and revenue. We're going to hopefully improve education because I know

it is one of the worst states for public education. It is actually ranked the bottom. Yeah, nine years in the row and math and rating, which is horrible, horrible, but we have no choice. And so we need to include some options in there. And so the good news with New Mexico is we have nowhere to go, but up. Let's tell of the optimistic view. Yeah. So when you step back, you lived in Alaska, New Mexico, and Norway. Tell me something that you like,

that you like, that you take away, that you know, it stands out that you like about each place. Yeah. Okay. Norway. I just love how family oriented and community minded it is. I am so

“grateful. I grew up there for those reasons, but also for my now perspective now. I think it is so”

easy to take for granted. Well, you don't know what you have, right? I think there's so many Americans that don't quite realize, especially when they're younger, but an amazing country we live in. And what amazing opportunities we have ahead of us. And I think because I grew up in Norway and

I came here, my eyes always a little sharper to that. I realized just, I'm so grateful for the

opportunities. And that it's up to me how I want to make my life. And truly, that's that's the case here. I don't know that's the case anywhere else in the world. So that's really cool. Alaska is wild and free. And that's only, um, and that's my favorite thing about Alaska. Also the people, I have to say the people as the one common thing in all three places. Whether it's Norway, Alaska or the Mexico, and then the Mexico has the best weather, the best people, the best food. So I'm not sure if you're

looking for the answer. Well, hi, that's your opinion. No, I actually, I have loved New Mexico getting to go there and spend time. I totally ran the food, by the way, and the weather. And the people.

“No, it's a great stay. I think it's a great secret. Actually, I really feel like there could be a”

Renaissance in New Mexico. Yeah. If we, if the Paul, if Paul seemed to make your skin, you know, changed direction or we get new ones and we could actually do some great thing. And there's so much potential there. It really is. Oh, with all the national, we don't talk, I think. New Mexico's more on the battlefield. No kidding, speaking of aliens in a very different way. I, I think we need to have to say, tell me about your when you became a citizen. Oh, yeah. So I became nationalized

and 2022 and the summer of 2022. And it's just the greatest honor of my life. So I'm a dual citizen off Norway and the US and I'm just honored. That's fabulous. What is, uh, as you kind of wrap up, you know, like I said, you've, you've been with America's prosperity at a grassroots social level and even as a volunteer in politics and then in a leadership role, would you say again, you know, the people who are not sure about getting involved? And if they can make

a difference, you know, what have you seen that would speak to them? Gosh, um, we need you to, right? I mean, it's, it's cliche, but freedom really just is one generation away. And I think we're

it still is, but it's up to us to preserve it. And I think if, if you don't get involved, there's

“just no guarantee. And I don't know that, you know, your kids will have the same opportunities as you”

once did. And, and that if I ever have kids, they will probably not have the same opportunity as I

did. If more people don't get involved. So get involved. That's a great message. It will clip

that one and send it around for a fee. Um, well, hey, look, I'm really excited that you took a chance

on yourself and decided to see whether or not you would fail or succeed. I'd say just looking over your, your career, which is a long way to go, you're definitely doing more succeeded in the

“failing. Uh, but, you know, I think keep up the great work in, in New Mexico and transforming that”

and as an emerging leader with AFP. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me on the podcast. Yeah, we're thrilled. Thanks. Folks, if I, if you enjoyed this podcast, feel free to like and subscribe

“to us on our social channels, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And always remember,”

liberty and freedom are easily taken for granted. Don't take them for granted. Go out there and defend freedom of liberty. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you on the next episode. Thank you for listening to American Potential. You may listen to more stories from Americans working every day to expand freedom and opportunity in their communities by visiting of americanpotential.com.