{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jake Ashby | image = Jake Ashby Smiling.png | caption = Ashby in 2025 | term_end = | party = Republican | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | profession = | spouse = Kristy | children = 2 | education = {{Plainlist| * Keuka College * Union Graduate College }} | website = {{plainlist| *{{URL| https://www.jake-ashby.com/|Campaign website}} *{{URL| https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/jacob-ashby|Official website}}}} | office = | state_assembly2 = New York | district2 = 107th | term_start2 = April 30, 2018 | predecessor2 = Steven McLaughlin | state_senate1 = New York State | district1 = 43rd | term_start1 = January 1, 2023 | predecessor1 = Daphne Jordan | term_end2 = December 31, 2022 | successor2 = Scott Bendett | signature = Jacob Ashby Signature.png }}
'''Jacob C. Ashby''' is an American politician from the state of New York. A Republican, Ashby has represented the 43rd district in the New York State Senate since 2023. He previously served in the Rensselaer County Legislature and the New York State Assembly.
==Education and early career== Ashby is a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College, Keuka College, and Union Graduate College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/178432/jake-ashby|title=Jake Ashby|website=VoteSmart.org|access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/2018/03/12/republican-rensselaer-county-legislator-jake-ashby-believes-hes-good-fit-for-vacant-107th-assembly-seat/|title=Republican Rensselaer County Legislator Jake Ashby believes he's good fit for vacant 107th assembly seat|date=March 12, 2018|website=Troy Record}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.keuka.edu/news/keuka-college-grad-could-make-election-night-history|title=Keuka College Grad Could Make Election-Night History|first=Kevin|last=Frisch|website=Keuka College|date=October 31, 2018}}</ref>
Ashby is an occupational therapist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2022/12/new-state-lawmakers-2023-legislative-session/381012/|title=The new state lawmakers in the 2023 legislative session|first=Shantel|last=Destra|date=December 19, 2022|website=City & State NY}}</ref> He has taught at Maria College.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mariacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MariaMag_2018.pdf|title=Maria College Alumni Magazine|date=2018|page=7|access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref> He is a former captain in the United States Army Reserve,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://capitolpressroom.org/2021/05/31/memorial-day-reflections-with-assemblyman-jake-ashby/|title=Memorial Day reflections with Assemblyman Jake Ashby|website=The Capitol Pressroom|first=David|last=Lombardo|date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> having completed tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref name="sen" />
==Political career== A Republican, Ashby is a former member of the Rensselaer County Legislature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/states/new-york/albany/whiteboard/2018/04/24/jake-ashby-set-to-hold-steve-mclaughlins-assembly-seat-8757606|title=Jake Ashby set to hold Steve McLaughlin's Assembly seat|website=subscriber.politicopro.com|last=Vielkind|first=Jimmy|date=April 24, 2018}}</ref>
===Elections=== In 2018, Ashby ran for State Assembly in the 107th district. The district had been represented by Steven McLaughlin until his election as Rensselaer County Executive. In a close special election in April 2018, Ashby defeated Democrat Cynthia Doran<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Jake-Ashby-locks-up-Assembly-seat-12869970.php|title=Jake Ashby locks up Assembly seat|website=Times Union|first=David |last=Lombardo|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref> by 174 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.ny.gov/contest/1330|title=2018 Apr 24 - Special - Member of Assembly - State Assembly District 107 |website=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref> Ashby won another close election that November, defeating Democrat Tistrya Houghtling<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://poststar.com/news/local/ashby-wins-tight-assembly-race/article_2fc20bf0-d9c6-5512-b043-f41e10882117.html|title= Ashby wins tight Assembly race|website=The Post Star|first=Kathleen |last=Moore|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref> by less than 1,000 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.ny.gov/contest/1414|title=2018 Nov 6 - General - Member of Assembly - State Assembly District 107 |website=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref> In his 2020 re-election campaign, Ashby defeated Democrat Brittany Vogel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.ny.gov/contest/478|title=2020 Nov 3 - General - Member of Assembly - State Assembly District 107 |website=New York State Board of Elections|access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/2018/11/08/ashby-re-elected-to-107th-assembly-district-seat/|title=Ashby re-elected to 107th Assembly District seat|website=Troy Record|date=November 8, 2018}}</ref>
In 2022, Ashby ran for State Senate in the newly reconfigured 43rd district.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2022/05/17/ashby-launches-senate-campaign--other-races-take-shape|title=Jake Ashby launches New York Senate campaign, other races take shape|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|date=May 17, 2022|last=Lisa|first=Kate}}</ref> He defeated Democrat Andrea Smyth by a narrow margin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.ny.gov/contest/73|title=2022 Nov 8 - General - State Senator - State Senate District 43 |website=New York State Board of Elections|access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref><ref name="sen">{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2022/11/30/asm--ashby-prepares-move-to-state-senate|title=Assemblyman Ashby prepares move to state Senate|first=Kate |last=Lisa |website=spectrumlocalnews.com|date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> In 2024, he defeated Democratic challenger Alvin Gamble to win re-election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.ny.gov/contest/5667|title=2024 Nov 5 - General - State Senator - State Senate District 43 |website=New York State Board of Elections |access-date=March 21, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wnyt.com/uncategorized/tedisco-ashby-win-new-terms/|title=Tedisco, Ashby win new terms|first=Michael|last=Goot|website=WNYT|date=November 6, 2024}}</ref>
===Political positions=== As an assemblymember, Ashby "pushed for policy changes to help veterans, including bills to create peer mental health support programs for first responders and frontline health workers struggling with depression, anxiety or PTSD".<ref name="auto"/>
In 2024, as a member of the State Senate, Ashby introduced legislation to combat poverty by providing $1,000 "baby bonuses" to parents of newborns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nysfocus.com/2024/08/15/senator-ashby-baby-bonus-new-york-child-tax-credit|title=Senator Proposes $1,000 “Baby Bonus” to Help People Afford to Have Children|website=New York Focus|last=Rock|first=Julia|date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>
Ashby helped to pass legislation creating a new program to help undocumented New York military veterans acquire U.S. citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/06/20/new-program-helping-n-y--veterans-without-citizenship-become-naturalized|title=New program helping N.Y. veterans without citizenship become naturalized|first=Kate |last=Lisa |website=spectrumlocalnews.com|date=June 20, 2025}}</ref>
In June 2025, as a member of the State Senate, Ashby voted against the Medical Aid in Dying Act and debated the bill on the Senate floor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2025/06/ny-senate-passes-medical-aid-in-dying-act-next-step-is-gov-hochuls-desk.html|title=N.Y. Senate passes Medical Aid in Dying Act; next step is Gov. Hochul's desk|first=Lauren|last=Lovallo|date=June 10, 2025|website=silive}}</ref> Also in 2025, Ashby supported legislation to provide greater access to mental health courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news10.com/news/ny-capitol-news/nys-lawmakers-and-district-attorneys-highlight-the-importance-of-mental-health-court/|title=NYS lawmakers, DAs highlight importance of mental health court|website=News 10|last=DeLine|first=Jamie|date=October 29, 2025}}</ref>
Ashby introduced a bill mandating that internet pornography websites verify that their users are adults before allowing them access to adult content. As of August 2025, 30 legislators had signed on as cosponsors of the bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-08-26/state-lawmakers-look-to-pass-legislation-requiring-adult-website-users-to-verify-age|title=State lawmakers look to pass legislation requiring adult website users to verify age|first=Jesse|last=Taylor|date=August 26, 2025|website=WAMC}}</ref>
Ashby has also introduced legislation to ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from sensitive locations and to ban local law enforcement from coordinating with ICE on immigration enforcement raids conducted without warrants. The bill would not ban law enforcement from coordinating with ICE in executing judicial warrants in criminal investigations. In February 2026, Ashby said, "'I think what we’ve seen recently is a failure in leadership at the federal level. I would hope that a bill like this would prompt change'".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/news/2026/02/05/n-y--gop-state-senator-pushes-for-immigration-enforcement-to-return-to-criminal-threats|title=Ashby pushes for immigration enforcement to return to criminal threats|website=nystateofpolitics.com|last=Neuman|first=Nicole|date=February 5, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Ashby lives in Castleton-on-Hudson with his wife, Kristy, and their two children, a son and a daughter.<ref name="ficial">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/jacob-ashby/about|title=About Jacob Ashby|website=NYSenate.gov|access-date=February 14, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}} {{New York State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashby, Jacob}} Category:Living people Category:People from Rensselaer County, New York Category:Politicians from Albany, New York Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Category:Keuka College alumni Category:Occupational therapists Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:New York (state) Republicans Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:United States Army reservists Category:Military personnel from New York (state) Category:American people of Portuguese descent