Jake Ashby
Jake Ashby | |
|---|---|
 Ashby in 2025 | |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 43rd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Daphne Jordan |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 107th district | |
| In office April 30, 2018 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Steven McLaughlin |
| Succeeded by | Scott Bendett |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kristy |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Castleton-on-Hudson, New York |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Jacob C. Ashby is an American politician, occupational therapist, educator, and combat veteran 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.[1]
Ashby was an occupational therapist for 20 years, working as a clinician and rehabilitation director before operating his own community based practice. He taught in the Occupational Therapy and Healthcare Management Departments at Maria College. He is a former Captain in the United States Army Reserve, serving for eight years and completing tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.[2]
Political career
A Republican, Ashby is a former member of the Rensselaer County Legislature.[1]
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[3] by 174 votes.[4] Ashby won another close election that November, defeating Democrat Tistrya Houghtling[5] by less than 1,000 votes.[4] In his 2020 re-election campaign, Ashby defeated Democrat Brittany Vogel.[6][4]
In 2022, Ashby ran for State Senate in the newly reconfigured 43rd district.[7] He defeated Democrat Andrea Smyth by a narrow margin.[8][4] In 2024, he defeated Democratic challenger Alvin Gamble to win re-election.[9][4]
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".[7]
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.[10]
Ashby helped to pass legislation creating a new program to help undocumented New York military veterans acquire U.S. citizenship.[11]
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.[12] Also in 2025, Ashby supported legislation to provide greater access to mental health courts.[13]
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.[14]
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'".[15]
Personal life
Ashby lives in Castleton-on-Hudson with his wife, Kristy, and their two children, a son and a daughter.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "About Jacob Ashby". NYSenate.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ "Assemblyman Jake Ashby". New York State Assembly. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ Lombardo, David (April 27, 2018). "Jake Ashby locks up Assembly seat". Times Union. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Search Past Elections Candidate Ashby". results.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ Moore, Kathleen (November 6, 2018). "Ashby wins tight Assembly race". The Post Star. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ "Ashby re-elected to 107th Assembly District seat". Troy Record. November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Lisa, Kate (May 17, 2022). "Jake Ashby launches New York Senate campaign, other races take shape". spectrumlocalnews.com.
- ^ Lisa, Kate (November 30, 2022). "Assemblyman Ashby prepares move to state Senate". spectrumlocalnews.com.
- ^ Goot, Michael (November 6, 2024). "Tedisco, Ashby win new terms". WNYT.
- ^ Rock, Julia (August 15, 2024). "Senator Proposes $1,000 "Baby Bonus" to Help People Afford to Have Children". New York Focus.
- ^ Lisa, Kate (June 20, 2025). "New program helping N.Y. veterans without citizenship become naturalized". spectrumlocalnews.com.
- ^ Lovallo, Lauren (June 10, 2025). "N.Y. Senate passes Medical Aid in Dying Act; next step is Gov. Hochul's desk". silive.
- ^ DeLine, Jamie (October 29, 2025). "NYS lawmakers, DAs highlight importance of mental health court". News 10.
- ^ Taylor, Jesse (August 26, 2025). "State lawmakers look to pass legislation requiring adult website users to verify age". WAMC.
- ^ Neuman, Nicole (February 5, 2026). "Ashby pushes for immigration enforcement to return to criminal threats". nystateofpolitics.com.
