Angelique Ashby

Senator Angelique Ashby represents Senate District 8, which encompasses much of Sacramento County including the cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove (Ballotpedia; sd08.senate.ca.gov). A former Sacramento City Councilwoman who served 12 years in local government, she became the first woman elected to represent Sacramento in the California State Senate in more than 20 years when she won her 2022 race (Wikipedia; sd08.senate.ca.gov/biography). She currently serves as Senate Majority Leader and has focused her legislative agenda on foster youth support, literacy, domestic violence protections, and public safety, areas that intersect with family-centered policy concerns (sd08.senate.ca.gov; Ballotpedia). With a 19% CFC Biblical Values Scorecard rating, Ashby's voting record has consistently placed her at considerable distance from the California Family Council's worldview framework on the sanctity of life (Chapter 6), parental authority in education (Chapter 8), and religious liberty (Chapter 9).

Angelique V. Ashby (born March 20, 1975, in Ashland, Oregon) is a Democratic member of the California State Senate representing District 8 and currently serves as Senate Majority Leader, having been appointed to the role on December 23, 2025, by Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limon. ^[1,2] Her father was formerly the head of California's state foster care system and the child welfare director in San Diego County. ^[2,3] Her family moved to the Greater Sacramento area when she was in elementary school, and she graduated from Sacramento High School. ^[2]

## Education and Early Career

Ashby became a single mother at age 20 and worked full-time while pursuing her education. ^[2,3] She earned a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Law and Society from the University of California, Davis in 1999, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2003. ^[1,2] While in school, she worked with foster youth, at a labor law firm, and in the Sacramento County Public Defender's office. ^[2] She co-founded Ashby Consulting Group, LLC with her father, building best-practice model programs serving foster youth, parolees, incarcerated women, and transition-age youth. ^[1,2]

## Sacramento City Council (2010-2022)

Ashby was elected to the Sacramento City Council District 1 (Natomas) in 2010, beating two male challengers — both twice her age, one a three-term incumbent — with over 50% of the vote in the primary. ^[2,3] She served 12 years on the council, was the sole woman on the council for more than half of her tenure, and was the first councilmember to give birth while in elected office. ^[2] She served as Vice Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem for seven years, the longest in city history. ^[3] During her tenure, she secured millions for schools, community centers, parks, and fire stations, attracted a Fortune 500 company bringing 5,000 high-wage jobs to the Sacramento region, and championed programs for women and children experiencing homelessness. ^[2,3] She ran for Sacramento mayor in 2016 but lost to Darrell Steinberg, who won with 59% of the vote. ^[1]

## State Senate

Ashby won the 2022 Senate District 8 race, defeating fellow Democrat Dave Jones (former California Insurance Commissioner) in the general election with 51.5% of the vote in one of the most expensive state legislative races in California history at approximately $14.5 million total spending. ^[1,4] She became the first woman elected to represent Sacramento in the California State Senate in more than 20 years. ^[2]

Her flagship legislation, SB 307 ("Fostering Futures"), makes debt-free college a reality for former foster youth at UC, CSU, and community colleges by covering 100% of unmet needs including books, food, housing, and tuition, with $25 million in ongoing annual funding signed by Governor Newsom. ^[5] She has also authored the Youth Literacy Act (SB 321), legislation improving investigation of domestic violence deaths (SB 989), and bills addressing student mental health (SB 350) and California water supply (SB 659). ^[5,6]

Her 19% CFC Biblical Values Scorecard rating reflects consistent divergence from the California Family Council's worldview framework. Her voting record has supported abortion access expansion over the sanctity of human life, government-directed education over parental authority and school choice, and progressive social mandates over religious liberty protections.

Ashby lives in the Natomas community of Sacramento with her husband Zac, an emergency room nurse, and their youngest child, Alia. Her oldest son, Nate, lives nearby in the Pocket-Greenhaven community, and her middle son, Tyus, attends the University of Oregon. ^[2]