Akilah Weber

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Akilah Weber

| image = Akilah Weber, 2021 (big).jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2021

| state_senate1 = California State

| district1 = 39th

| term_start1 = December 2, 2024

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Toni Atkins

| successor1 =

| state_assembly2 = California

| district2 = 79th

| term_start2 = April 19, 2021

| term_end2 = December 2, 2024

| predecessor2 = Shirley Weber

| successor2 = LaShae Sharp-Collins

| birth_name = Akilah Faizah Weber

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|07|02}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Dennis K. Gakunga {{marriage|Andrew Paul Pierson|2024}}

| children = 2

| mother = Shirley Weber

| 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

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.{{Cite web|title=Courage California Voter Guide|url=http://progressivevotersguide.com/california|access-date=2021-04-25|website=progressivevotersguide.com|language=en}}

Career

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.{{Cite web|title=Akilah Weber, M.D.|url=https://www.rchsd.org/doctors/akilah-weber-md/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=www.rchsd.org}}

In 2018, Weber was elected to the La Mesa City Council.{{Cite web|title=Biography {{!}} Official Website - Dr. Akilah Weber representing the 79th California Assembly District|url=https://a79.asmdc.org/biography|access-date=2021-04-25|website=a79.asmdc.org}}{{Cite web|date=2021-04-18|title=La Mesa City Council says goodbye to Akilah Weber|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/east-county/la-mesa/story/2021-04-18/la-mesa-city-council-says-goodbye-to-akilah-weber|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418182521/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/east-county/la-mesa/story/2021-04-18/la-mesa-city-council-says-goodbye-to-akilah-weber|archive-date=April 18, 2021|access-date=2021-04-25|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Daughter Akilah Weber Succeeds California Elections Chief Shirley Weber in Legislature|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/daughter-akilah-weber-succeeds-california-elections-chief-shirley-weber-in-legislature/2581406/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=NBC 7 San Diego|language=en-US}}

Electoral history

=2021=

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2021 California State Assembly 79th district special election{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2021-recall/sov/07-state-assemblymember-79.pdf|title=Official Canvass of State Assembly 79th Assembly District* Special Primary Election, April 6, 2021|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 5, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Akilah Weber

| votes = 33,197

| percentage = 52.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Republican Party

| candidate = Marco Contreras

| votes = 21,359

| percentage = 33.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Leticia Munguia

| votes = 5,263

| percentage = 8.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Shane Suzanne Parmely

| votes = 3,241

| percentage = 5.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Aeiramique Glass Blake

| votes = 818

| percentage = 1.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 63,878

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = California Democratic Party

}}

=2022=

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2022 California State Assembly 79th district election{{cite web|title=June 7, 2022, Primary Election - State Assemblymember|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/104-state-assemblymember.pdf|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}{{cite web |title=November 8, 2022, General Election - State Assemblymember|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/65-state-assemblymember.pdf|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Akilah Weber (incumbent)

| votes = 42,857

| percentage = 64.3

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Republican Party

| candidate = Corbin Sabol

| votes = 16,651

| percentage = 25.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Republican Party

| candidate = John Moore

| votes = 7,159

| percentage = 10.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = {{sum|42857|16651|7159}}

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Akilah Weber (incumbent)

| votes = 67,674

| percentage = 63.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = California Republican Party

| candidate = Corbin Sabol

| votes = 38,290

| percentage = 36.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = {{sum|67674|38290}}

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = California Democratic Party

}}

=2024=

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = 2024 California State Senate 39th district election{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/92-state-senators-formatted.pdf|title=March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 5, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/37-state-senator.pdf|title=November 5, 2024, General Election|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 5, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Democratic Party

| candidate = Akilah Weber

| votes = 121,647

| percentage = 60.7

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = California Republican Party

| candidate = Bob Divine

| votes = 78,637

| percentage = 39.3