Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber (née Nash; born September 20, 1948) is an American academic and politician serving as the secretary of state of California. She was previously a member of the California State Assembly for the 79th Assembly District,[1] which includes portions of San Diego, Chula Vista, and National City and all of Lemon Grove and La Mesa.

Shirley Weber
33rd Secretary of State of California
Assumed office
January 29, 2021
GovernorGavin Newsom
Preceded byAlex Padilla
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 79th district
In office
December 3, 2012 – January 29, 2021
Preceded byMarty Block (redistricted)
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born (1948-09-20) September 20, 1948
Hope, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Daniel Weber (deceased)
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA, MA, PhD)
WebsiteGovernment website

Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, Weber served on the San Diego Board of Education, and as a Professor of African-American Studies at San Diego State University. A member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, she is the first African American to be elected to the California State Legislature south of Los Angeles.[2]

In December 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom nominated Weber to succeed Alex Padilla, who was nominated to succeed Vice-President Kamala Harris as one of California's two senators, as California Secretary of State. Upon inauguration, Weber is the first African American person to serve as Secretary of State and the fifth to serve in a statewide position.

Early life and education

Weber was born in Hope, Arkansas and raised in Los Angeles. Her father left school after sixth grade but encouraged Weber and her seven siblings to prioritize their education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and PhD in communication from the University of California, Los Angeles.[2][3]

Career

Academics

Weber is a professor emerita of Africana studies at San Diego State University. She helped to establish that department in 1972 and became its chair, teaching there for 40 years. She was president of the National Council for Black Studies from 2002 to 2006.[4]

Early political career

She served as a board member and later president of the San Diego Board of Education from 1988 to 1996. She also served as Chairwoman of the San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission.[2]

California Assembly

In Fall 2011, she was recruited to run for the California State Assembly by Toni Atkins, who has regarded Weber as an inspiring role model ever since hearing her speak as a school board member.[2] In November 2012 Weber defeated her Republican opponent, Mary England, by 61.7% to 38.3%.[5] Weber said her focus as an assembly member will be education. She was re-elected 4 times.

During her time in the Assembly, Weber was a member of the California Assembly's Committee on Higher Education. She also chaired the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5. She promoted the development of a state university location in Chula Vista, possibly beginning as a satellite or extension campus of the California State University system.[6]

California Secretary of State

On December 22, 2020, it was announced that Weber would succeed Alex Padilla as Secretary of State of California, effective upon confirmation by the California State Legislature.[7] Weber is the first African American person to serve as Secretary of State and the fifth to serve in a statewide position, following Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Superintendents of Public Instruction Wilson Riles and Tony Thurmond. Weber was sworn in on January 29, 2021 and was confirmed unanimously by the state senate the day before.[8][9]

Personal life

Weber's husband, Judge Daniel Weber, died in 2002. She has two children and three grandchildren.[10][11] Her daughter, Akilah Weber, is a surgeon and a member of the La Mesa City Council. On January 27, 2021, Akilah announced that she would be a candidate to succeed her mother in the California State Assembly.[12]

Electoral history

2012
See also: California State Assembly election, 2012
California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2012
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber 20,293 30.5
Republican Mary England 19,313 29.1
Republican Matt Mendoza 8,857 13.3
Democratic Rudy Ramirez 7,533 11.3
Democratic Patricia Ann Washington 5,404 8.1
Democratic Sid Voorakkara 5,060 7.6
Total votes 66,460 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber 94,170 61.7
Republican Mary England 58,424 38.3
Total votes 152,594 100.0
Democratic hold

2014
See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014
California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2014
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 35,886 99.7
American Independent George R. Williams (write-in) 115 0.3
Total votes 36,001 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 49,264 61.9
American Independent George R. Williams 30,266 38.1
Total votes 79,530 100.0
Democratic hold

2016
See also: California State Assembly election, 2016
California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 64,395 67.7
Republican John Moore 30,711 32.3
Total votes 95,106 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 92,285 64.56
Republican John Moore 50,687 35.4
Total votes 142,972 100.0

2018
See also: California State Assembly election, 2018
California's 79th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 51,395 63.7
Republican John Moore 29,324 36.3
Total votes 80,719 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 103,533 66.8
Republican John Moore 51,548 33.2
Total votes 155,081 100.0
Democratic hold

2020
See also: California State Assembly election, 2020
2020 California's 79th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 74,121 65.7
Republican John Moore 19,619 17.4
Republican Carmelita "C.L." Larrabaster 19,080 16.9
Total votes 112,820 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 147,994 65.4
Republican John Moore 78,367 34.6
Total votes 226,361 100

References
  1. "Democrats Win Supermajority in California Assembly". NBC San Diego. November 15, 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  2. Walker, Mark (November 18, 2012). "Shirley Weber forges path with historic win". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  3. "Chased out of Arkansas as a child, Shirley Weber won't back down in California Capitol". CalMatters. August 31, 2017.
  4. "Department of Africana Studies: Faculty". San Diego State University. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  5. "State Assemblymember" (PDF). November 6, 2102 General Election. Secretary of State, State of California. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  6. Bowler, Matthew (August 4, 2014). "Assemblywoman Shirley Weber Wants To Make Chula Vista University A Reality". KPBS. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  7. Staff, KCRA (2020-12-23). "Gov. Newsom nominates Shirley Weber as California's first Black secretary of state". KCRA. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  8. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/calif-senate-confirms-asm-shirley-weber-as-secretary-of-state-1st-black-person-to-hold-title/2505542/
  9. https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/01/29/shirley-weber-sworn-in-as-californias-first-black-secretary-of-state/
  10. "Chased out of Arkansas as a child, Shirley Weber won't back down in California Capitol". CALmatters. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  11. "Biography". Office of California State Assemblymember Shirley Weber. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  12. https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/01/27/sen-atkins-endorses-dr-akilah-weber-to-succeed-her-mother-in-state-assembly/
Political offices
Preceded by
James Schwab
Acting		 Secretary of State of California
2021–present		 Incumbent
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