He formed a political alliance with future Representatives Caleb Powers and John Robsion, both prominent Republicans in the eastern part of the state.

A political machine, known as the Jockey Club, backed Sampson, and several key Democrats bolted the party after Beckham's nomination.

In 1929, Sampson removed Democratic political boss Ben Johnson from his post as highway commissioner.

Later in the session, Sampson proposed to allow Samuel Insull to dam the Cumberland Falls to generate hydroelectric power.

The General Assembly instead voted to accept an offer from T. Coleman du Pont to purchase the falls and turn them into a state park.

He called out the Kentucky National Guard to quell a violent mine strike in Harlan County, known as the Battle of Evarts.

[2] Sampson later served as president of Barbourville's First National Bank and was the youngest person ever to hold that position.

[8] Sampson and US Representative John M. Robsion organized a formidable Republican faction in the eastern part of Kentucky.

[11] The Democratic Party was badly divided over the parimutuel betting issue as well as Prohibition, and a severance tax on coal.

[6] In the lieutenant governor's race, Democrat James Breathitt Jr. defeated Sampson's running mate, E. E. Nelson, by 159 votes out of more than 700,000 cast.

[11][14] During the 1928 legislative session, it became clear that the bipartisan support shown for Sampson had been one of political convenience rather than true conviction.

[16] However, Sampson felt that such a powerful position could not be left in the hands of a Democrat, and he removed Johnson from office in December 1929.

[18] Sampson also made enemies when he backed Samuel Insull's plan to dam the Cumberland Falls to generate hydroelectric power.

[17] An ally of the traditional southern power groups (the utility companies and textbook manufacturers), Sampson cited the jobs to be gained from the plan.

[17] An alternate plan was proposed by Louisville-born millionaire and Delaware Senator T. Coleman du Pont, who offered to purchase the falls for $230,000 and turn it into a state park.

[17][19] The General Assembly passed legislation giving the state park commission the right of eminent domain over the falls and then voted to accept the du Pont's offer.

His calls for funding the free textbook program, compulsory sterilization of the mentally ill, and restrictions on chain stores were ignored.

[20] With the onset of the Great Depression, Sampson worked to control government costs, but he endorsed highway progression.

[19] As unemployment in the eastern coal fields climbed to 40 percent, the United Mine Workers made their first inroads in the region.

[21] The local sheriff added 26 deputies to his staff, helping to enforce the blacklisting of those miners and to discourage further organization.

[24] Following his term as governor, Sampson returned to his legal practice in Barbourville and was elected as a circuit court judge.

[25] In 1957, he was appointed to the Citizens' Advisory Highway Committee, and was awarded the Governor's Medallion for distinguished public service in 1959.