William A. Barclay

Barclay was born in Syracuse, New York.[3] He earned his B.A. from St. Lawrence University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1995.[4] After graduating from law school he served as a clerk for Roger Miner, a judge in the United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit, in both Albany and New York City.[5]

Barclay is a partner in the law firm of Barclay Damon.[6] His father is Hugh Douglas Barclay, a former U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador and a former chair of the Republican Conference in the New York State Senate.[4]

As of January 2020, Barclay and his wife Margaret reside on an 800-acre farm in Pulaski, New York. They are the parents of two sons, Harry and George. Nine generations of Barclays have resided in Pulaski.[4]

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 2008 general election with 67 percent of the vote[9][10] and ran uncontested in the November 2010 and 2012 general elections.[11][12][13] A Republican, Barclay represents the 120th District in the New York State Assembly. As of 2020, the 120th district includes Oswego, New York and portions of Onondaga, Jefferson and Oswego counties.[5]

On December 14, 2007, Barclay announced his candidacy for New York State Senate in New York's 48th Senate district.[14][7] He sought to replace former Senator Jim Wright, who stepped down. Barclay lost the election to Democratic Assemblyman Darrel 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 of Brian 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]

On August 31, 2020, during an interview with Susan Arbetter on Spectrum News' Capital Tonight, an Albany-based political insider television program, Barclay would not say if he believed in anthropogenic climate change. Barclay also claimed that natural gas "had gotten a bad rap," and said that if climate change was responsible for Hurricane Sandy, "we can't say climate change is responsible for a really cold winter."

On October 26, 2022, the Albany-based statewide environmental 501(c)(4) non-profit Environmental Advocates Action,[18] formed in 1969 as one of the first organizations in the nation to advocate for the future of a state's environment and the health of its citizens, released its annual Environmental Scorecard[18] and gave Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay its 2022 "Oil Slick Award," which symbolizes his disregard for the environment (based upon his environmental votes). His consistent anti-environmental ethos is well documented, and not "opinion." Environmental Advocates Action's sister organization is Environmental Advocates NY, which is the New York State affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.[19]