Will Barclay | |
|---|---|
| Minority Leader of theNew York State Assembly | |
| In office January 7, 2020 – February 9, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Kolb |
| Succeeded by | Ed Ra |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the120th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Warner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Anson Barclay (1969-01-05)January 5, 1969 (age 57) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Margaret Barclay |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | H. Douglas Barclay (father) |
| Education | St. Lawrence University (BA) Syracuse University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | State Assembly website |
William Anson Barclay (born January 5, 1969) is an American politician and attorney from the State of New York. A Republican, he has served in theNew York State Assembly since 2003. In January 2020, Barclay was elected to the position of Assembly minority leader. In February 2026, Barclay announced that he was stepping down from his leadership position and that he would not seek re-election in the fall.
William Anson Barclay[1][2] was born on January 5, 1969 inSyracuse, New York[3] toH. Douglas Barclay and Dee Dee Barclay. H. Douglas Barclay, who served asU.S. ambassador to El Salvador and as chair of the Republican Conference in theNew York State Senate, was "among the most influential Republicans in New York state during a 52-year political career". The Barclay family owns Douglas Outdoors, an Otsego County company that makes fishing equipment.[4]
Barclay earned hisB.A. fromSt. Lawrence University in 1992 and hisJuris Doctor fromSyracuse University College of Law in 1995.[4] After graduating from law school, he served as a clerk forRoger Miner, a judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[5]
As of 2020, Barclay was a partner in the law firm of Barclay Damon.[6]
Barclay was first elected to the State Assembly on November 5, 2002,[5] defeating Democrat E. Clyde Ohl by a margin of 21,848 to 14,594.[7] He took office in 2003.[8] Barclay won the November 2008general election with 67 percent of the vote[9][10] and ran uncontested in the November 2010 and 2012 general elections.[11][12][13] ARepublican,[6] Barclay represents the 120th District in theNew York State Assembly. As of 2024, the 120th district includesOswego County and portions ofCayuga andJefferson Counties.[6]
Barclay ran forNew York State Senate in New York's 48th Senate district in a 2008 special election.[14][7] He sought to replace former senatorJim Wright, who had stepped down. Barclay lost the election to Democratic assemblymanDarrel Aubertine on February 27, 2008.[15]
On January 7, 2020, Barclay was unanimously elected to the post of Assembly minority leader by his Republican colleagues[4] following the resignation ofBrian Kolb.[6] He previously served as Deputy minority leader, as chair of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, and as ranking member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.[16][17]
Barclay has called for the repeal of the following laws: New York's 2019 bail reform law; the Raise the Age Act, which increased the age at which persons are held accountable for crimes as adults;[18] the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act, which he argued has caused increases in prison violence;[19] the Green Light Law,[20] which allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain New York driver licenses;[21] theNY SAFE Act,[22] a 2013 gun control law;[23] and congestion pricing in New York City.[24] Barclay and the Assembly Minority Conference have proposed an Inflation Relief and Consumer Assistance Plan (which would remove sales taxes on some essential goods) as well as tax incentives for families and childcare providers.[25][26] He opposed2024 New York Proposal 1, an equal rights amendment to theConstitution of New York.[27]
In February 2026, Barclay announced that he was stepping down from the position of Assembly minority leader and that he would not seek re-election in the fall. Assembly Republicans choseEd Ra as the next Assembly minority leader.[28]
Barclay and his wife, Margaret, have two sons: Harry and George. As of 2020, the Barclays lived on a 500-acre farm on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York. Nine generations of Barclays have resided at the farm, and the Barclays' house was built by Barclay's fourth great-grandfather.[4][7]
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bob Warner | Member of theNew York Assembly from the 120th district 2003–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Minority Leader of theNew York Assembly 2020–present | |
Elected and appointed statewide political officials ofNew York | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate | ||
| Assembly |
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| Court of Appeals (appointed) | ||
