Ihor Semko was born in Ukraine and came to the United States at eight years old with a family that had nothing but a belief in hard work. He moved from Oregon to New Jersey to Herkimer, New York, learning to adapt to new communities, new cultures, and a new language each time. Along the way, he learned that fitting in was not the goal. Making a place for himself was all that was needed.

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Ihor became the first in his family to earn a college degree in the United States, attending Herkimer County Community College and Utica University before earning his MBA. He built a career in human resources and organizational leadership, working directly with employees and business owners to solve real problems in real workplaces. As Head of HR for a manufacturing plant near Syracuse, he created safety committees, built in-house training programs that saved hundreds of dollars per employee, and modernized operations from the ground up. He has also served as a commissioner on the Oneida City Water Board.

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Today, Ihor and his wife Andriana, a SUNY Poly professor, are raising their two young sons in Central New York. The same conversations keep coming up with neighbors, coworkers, and local families: everything costs more, young people are leaving, and the district's Republican assemblyman is not paying attention. Ihor is running for the 122nd Assembly District because he is tired of waiting for someone else to step up. He is bringing a practical, community-focused voice to Albany, one that prioritizes affordability, supports local workers and small businesses, and fights to make sure Upstate families can build a life and stay.