Ashby Leads Lander by 177 Votes in Close Race

Republican state Sen. Jake Ashby holds a narrow lead over Democrat Devin Lander as thousands of mail-in ballots remain to be counted in the 43rd District.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Ashby Leads Lander by 177 Votes in Close Race

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Republican state Sen. Jake Ashby leads Democrat Devin Lander by 177 votes in the 43rd District, according to the state Board of Elections, with roughly 2,900 outstanding mail-in ballots still to be counted. The race remains too close to call, and other Republican incumbents in the Capital Region were defeated.

Why it matters

A manual recount is required if neither candidate pulls ahead by more than half a percentage point, and the outcome could shift control of a seat that now leans Democratic. Redistricting in 2023 reshaped the district, adding parts of Colonie and the cities of Watervliet and Cohoes.

Ashby leads Lander by 177 votes out of roughly 125,000 cast, with about 2,900 mail-in ballots still uncounted. A manual recount is mandatory if the final margin falls within half a percentage point, and the count is expected to stretch into next week.

The players

Jake Ashby

Ashby is a Republican state senator who has served nearly four years in the chamber and is a military veteran.

Devin Lander

Lander is a Democrat and New York state historian who is challenging Ashby for the 43rd District seat.

New York State Board of Elections

The state agency that publishes official vote tallies and oversees the counting and any required manual recount in close contests.

The details

Election officials are counting mail-in ballots across Albany, Rensselaer and Washington counties, which together make up the 43rd District. Ashby made rising energy costs and public safety central to his reelection bid, while Lander argued Democrats holding the chamber majority would deliver better infrastructure and school funding.

2023: Redistricting added Colonie and the cities of Watervliet and Cohoes to the district.
November 4, 2026: Election night, with the race too close to call.
Next week: Mail-in ballot counting expected to continue as more ballots arrive.

Legislative Policy Context

The 2023 redistricting that reshaped the 43rd District replaced parts of Saratoga County with Colonie and the cities of Watervliet and Cohoes, and Democratic voters now outnumber Republicans there. Ashby's narrow lead in a district that has shifted toward Democrats shows how new district boundaries can alter the competitive landscape of state Senate seats.

Residents in Rensselaer, Albany and Washington counties will not know their state senator until the mail-in count is complete. The outcome determines who represents the district on issues including energy costs, public safety, infrastructure and school funding.

The takeaway

Close races are often decided by a few hundred votes after mail-in ballots are counted, so checking official tallies over the coming days gives the clearest picture of who will represent the district.

What happens next

Mail-in ballot counting is expected to continue into next week, and a manual recount will be required if the final margin is within half a percentage point.