After serving in the state legislature from 1987 to 1995, Ashford ran for the Republican nomination in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, but was defeated. He returned to the state legislature in 2007 and served until 2015 when he successfully ran for the House of Representatives against incumbent Representative Lee Terry. After serving in the House of Representatives for two years he was defeated by Don Bacon and was later defeated in the Democratic primary in 2018 when he ran to reclaim his House seat.