After working with business interests, including his joint founding of the Samson & Filion Hardware company in 1887, Samson became a Quebec City councillor at the Saint-Pierre ward from 1904 to 1906 and again from 1908 to 1910.

Samson was elected mayor of Quebec City on 16 February 1920.

During his term as mayor, provincial premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau accused Samson of faulty city administration.

After leaving his post as mayor, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec as a Liberal member for the Québec-Centre riding in 1927.

[1] His son, Wilfrid Samson, also became a municipal and provincial politician.