American politician
Angelique V. Ashby is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate since 2023. A Democrat, she represents the 8th district. Before joining the legislature, she was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 2010, where she served for 12 years.
Early life
Ashby graduated from Sacramento High School. Her father was formerly the head of California’s state foster care programs. Ashby became a single mom at 20, before receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She founded a consulting firm with her late father, to create programs to assist parolees, foster children and incarcerated women.[1][2]
Political career
Ashby was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 2010, representing the first district.[3][4] She served as the vice mayor or mayor pro tem nine times during her 12 years on the council.[1][2] She was the only female councilmember for over six years and the first to give birth while in office. Ashby focused on homelessness, school funding, literacy, economic development, infrastructure and climate change.[5]
2022 state elections
In the 2022 state elections, Ashby contested the 8th district in the California State Senate. The race between her and the former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones was one of the most expensive in state history, with $14.5 million spent on the race according to Cal Matters.[6][7] Both candidates ran as Democrats.[6] She was endorsed by the previous state senator for the area, Richard Pan, Governor Gavin Newsom, former governor Jerry Brown and the organization EMILY's List.[1][5][7][8]
During the race, Jones sued the California Secretary of State to remove Ashby's ballot designation as a "women's advocate", claiming there is no such profession. She amended her designation to "Sacramento City Councilwoman".[1][9] Ashby came in second to Jones in the primary election on June 7, 2022.[10][11] She won the general election on November 8, 2022, [1][12] Jones conceded on November 29 after seeing Ashby’s election night lead grow with each ballot count update. Ashby became the first woman elected to the State Senate representing the majority of Sacramento County in over 20 years, and only the second woman ever to do so.[1]
Personal life
Ashby was born in Ashland, Oregon. Her family moved to the Sacramento region when she was in elementary school. She graduated from Sacramento High School and became a young single parent at 20 years old. She lived in low income housing and utilized various social service programs, such as subsidized childcare and food assistance.
She worked full time while raising her son and attending the University of California at Davis to obtain her undergraduate degree and also attended the University of Pacific’s, McGeorge School of Law where she obtained her law degree.
Ashby married in 2002. Her husband is also from Oregon, obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and later earned a Masters Degree as well. He is an emergency room nurse in Sacramento.[2]
They have three children and live in the City of Sacramento.
Ashby served on the Sacramento City Council for 12 years. She also owned a consulting firm with her late father. They focused their business on addressing the needs of foster youth, parolees and incarcerated women with children.
Ashby is known for her deep connections to her city and community and has been a trailblazer for women. She is a mentor to several elected officials serving in various capacities throughout the greater Sacramento region. She is currently serving as Sacramento’s State Senator.
