Shirley Weber to seek reelection as California Secretary of State
Dr. Shirley Weber will seek reelection as California Secretary of State in 2026, she announced Thursday.
The Democrat was appointed to the role overseeing statewide elections in January 2021 after her predecessor, Alex Padilla, went to the U.S. Senate and later was elected to a full term. Previously, she spent 40 years teaching Africana Studies at San Diego State University and served eight years in the state Assembly.
The daughter of an Arkansas sharecropper, Weber, 76, has pushed back on efforts by President Donald Trump and others to limit voting access and reduce the number of days mail-in-ballots can be counted.
“For me, voting rights are personal. I grew up in the Jim Crow South, and my own parents couldn’t vote until we moved to California,” Weber said in a statement. “With my powerful voice for justice, I fight every day to make sure that eligible Californians can exercise their right to vote, and I will never back down.”
Weber announced her reelection campaign with a list of endorsements from state and local officials including Oakland’s new mayor, Barbara Lee, and Attorney General Rob Bonta, another former Assemblymember who was elevated in 2021 as California officials took top jobs in former President Joe Biden’s White House.
“Dr. Weber is a trusted voice, standing up for our voting rights and bringing transparency and integrity to our election systems. She’s been a thoughtful partner against the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on elections, and she is a relentless advocate for California voters.” Bonta said. “I’ve been lucky enough to see Dr. Weber’s work close up in the Assembly and now as statewide officers, and I’m proud to endorse her for re-election.”
In a recent interview with The Bee, Weber criticized new efforts — including from members of her own party — to speed up California’s vote count, arguing elections officials already prioritize security and voter access.
“I hear the things that they’re saying,” about speeding it up, she said. “But based on all the things that California has asked everybody to do … We will not certify the election until (the count) is finished.”
No other candidates have announced an intention to run for the seat, according to filings with Weber’s office.
