[2] He is a former Captain in the United States Army Reserve, serving for eight years and completing tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Soon after taking office, he announced his campaign for the State Assembly's 107th district, which had been represented by Steven McLaughlin until his election as Rensselaer County Executive.

In a close special election in April 2018, Ashby defeated Democratic county legislator Cynthia Doran with 51% of the vote.

[4] Ashby won a similarly close election that November, defeating Democrat Tistrya Houghtling with 51% of the vote.

[5] In 2022, Ashby ran for the newly created 43rd district in the New York State Senate and won.