Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber
Name	Shirley Weber
Birth date	1948
Birth place	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, educator, historian
Office	33rd Secretary of State of California
Term start	December 22, 2020
Predecessor	Alex Padilla
Party	Democratic Party

Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber is an American politician, historian, and educator who serves as the Secretary of State of California. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 79th Assembly District in the California State Assembly before her appointment to the statewide office. Weber's career spans roles in higher education, civil rights advocacy, and state legislation, with a focus on voting rights, racial justice, and curriculum reform.

Early life and education

Weber was born in Santa Monica, California, and raised in San Diego, California and the City Heights neighborhood. She attended Lincoln High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University. Weber completed graduate studies with a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles where she studied African American history and related fields. Her formative years intersected with movements such as the Civil Rights Movement and organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Black Panther Party, informing her later academic and political work.

Academic career and activism

Weber served on the faculty at San Diego State University as a professor of African American studies and helped develop programs that connected academic study with community organizing. She worked with institutions like the California State University system and participated in initiatives involving the American Historical Association and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Her activism included collaboration with civil rights groups, labor organizations such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and cultural institutions like the San Diego Museum of Art and local community colleges to expand access to scholarship on African American experiences. Weber helped create curricula and archives in partnership with universities, municipal bodies, and civic organizations, drawing on networks that included National Council for the Social Studies affiliates and historical societies.

California State Assembly tenure

Elected to the California State Assembly in a special election, Weber represented the 79th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of San Diego, California and El Cajon. In Sacramento, she served on committees and worked with legislators from caucuses including the California Legislative Black Caucus, the California Legislative Women's Caucus, and the Democratic Caucus to advance legislation. Weber sponsored bills and authored measures addressing voting access, criminal justice reform, and educational standards, collaborating with state leaders such as former governors of California and officials from the California Department of Education and the Secretary of State's office before her own appointment. Her legislative alliances included partnerships with figures from the Los Angeles City Council, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and national lawmakers from the United States House of Representatives to address federal-state policy intersections.

California Secretary of State

Following the appointment of Alex Padilla to the United States Senate by Governor Gavin Newsom, Weber was nominated and appointed as California Secretary of State. In this role she oversees election administration, works with county registrars such as those in Los Angeles County and San Diego County, and engages with organizations like the National Association of Secretaries of State on issues of election security, voter registration drives, and ballot access. Weber coordinated with federal entities including the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice on civil rights enforcement related to voting, and liaised with nonprofit partners such as Rock the Vote and the League of Women Voters to expand participation. Her tenure has involved interaction with technology firms based in Silicon Valley on election systems and with advocacy groups concerned with redistricting processes following the United States census.

Political positions and legislative initiatives

Weber's policy priorities include election integrity, representation in school curricula, and reforms to policing and incarceration. She authored and supported legislation that reformed academic standards in K–12 curricula, working with the California State Board of Education and scholars from institutions such as University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University. Weber backed measures to address police accountability in collaboration with civil liberties groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and municipal prosecutors and reforms pursued in jurisdictions like Oakland, California and Los Angeles, California. On voting rights she promoted automatic voter registration and minority language assistance in coordination with the Voting Rights Act enforcement community and advocacy organizations tied to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Her initiatives intersected with national debates involving the United States Congress, state supreme courts including the California Supreme Court, and policy research from think tanks such as the Brennan Center for Justice.

Personal life and honors

Weber's family life and personal affiliations connect to community organizations in San Diego County and faith communities across the region. She has received awards and recognitions from institutions including San Diego State University, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and municipal bodies such as the City of San Diego. Honors have included citations from cultural foundations, academic societies like the Association for Black Women Historians, and civic awards granted by organizations including the California Democratic Party and local chambers of commerce. Weber continues to engage with public history projects, university departments, and nonprofit initiatives focused on equity, civil rights, and public service.

Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:Secretaries of State of California Category:Members of the California State Assembly Category:San Diego State University faculty Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni Category:African-American historians