Akilah Weber
Akilah Weber | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 39th district | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Toni Atkins |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 79th district | |
| In office April 19, 2021 – December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Shirley Weber |
| Succeeded by | LaShae Sharp-Collins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Akilah Faizah Weber July 2, 1978 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Dennis K. Gakunga
Andrew Paul Pierson (m. 2024) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
|
| Education | Xavier University of Louisiana (BS) University of Rochester (MD) |
Akilah Faizah Weber Pierson (born July 2, 1978) is an American politician and physician serving as a member of the California State Senate since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents the 39th district, which includes parts of central San Diego as well as all of La Mesa, El Cajon, and Lemon Grove. She previously served in the California State Assembly from 2021 to 2024 as a representative of the 79th district. She is the daughter of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, whom she succeeded in the Assembly after winning a special election in 2021.
Early life and education
[edit]Weber was born and raised in Oak Park, San Diego. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Rochester Medical Center.[1]
Career
[edit]After graduating from medical school, Weber completed a residency at the John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and a pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowship at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Weber is an OBGYN at Rady Children's Hospital.[2]
In 2018, Weber was elected to the La Mesa City Council.[3][4]
Weber was elected to the Assembly in a special election on April 6, 2021, to fill the vacancy of her mother, Shirley Weber, who resigned to become the Secretary of State of California. She was subsequently sworn in on April 19, 2021.[5]
Electoral history
[edit]2021
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Akilah Weber | 33,197 | 52.0 | |
| Republican | Marco Contreras | 21,359 | 33.4 | |
| Democratic | Leticia Munguia | 5,263 | 8.2 | |
| Democratic | Shane Suzanne Parmely | 3,241 | 5.1 | |
| Democratic | Aeiramique Glass Blake | 818 | 1.3 | |
| Total votes | 63,878 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2022
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Akilah Weber (incumbent) | 42,857 | 64.3 | |
| Republican | Corbin Sabol | 16,651 | 25.0 | |
| Republican | John Moore | 7,159 | 10.7 | |
| Total votes | 66,667 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Akilah Weber (incumbent) | 67,674 | 63.9 | |
| Republican | Corbin Sabol | 38,290 | 36.1 | |
| Total votes | 105,964 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Akilah Weber | 121,647 | 60.7 | |
| Republican | Bob Divine | 78,637 | 39.3 | |
| Total votes | 200,284 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Akilah Weber | 266,830 | 63.0 | |
| Republican | Bob Divine | 156,616 | 37.0 | |
| Total votes | 423,446 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Courage California Voter Guide". progressivevotersguide.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ "Akilah Weber, M.D." www.rchsd.org. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ "Biography | Official Website - Dr. Akilah Weber representing the 79th California Assembly District". a79.asmdc.org. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ Pearlman, Karen (April 18, 2021). "La Mesa City Council says goodbye to Akilah Weber". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ "Daughter Akilah Weber Succeeds California Elections Chief Shirley Weber in Legislature". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ "Official Canvass of State Assembly 79th Assembly District* Special Primary Election, April 6, 2021" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "June 7, 2022, Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]
| Authority control databases: Academics |
|---|
- 1978 births
- Living people
- 21st-century African-American women politicians
- 21st-century American physicians
- 21st-century American women physicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- 21st-century members of the California State Legislature
- African-American city council members in California
- African-American state legislators in California
- African-American women physicians
- Democratic Party California state senators
- Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
- People from La Mesa, California
- Physicians from California
- Politicians from San Diego
- University of Rochester alumni
- Women city councillors in California
- Women state legislators in California
- Xavier University of Louisiana alumni
- 21st-century African-American politicians