LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced he will nominate San Diego Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber as Secretary of State.

If confirmed, Weber would replace current Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who on Tuesday was named by Newsom to the U.S. Senate to replace Vice-Present-elect Kamala Harris.

“Dr. Weber is a tireless advocate and change agent with unimpeachable integrity,” said Gov. Newsom. “The daughter of sharecroppers from Arkansas, Dr. Weber’s father didn’t get to vote until his 30s and her grandfather never got to vote because he died before the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. When her family moved to South Central Los Angeles, she saw as a child her parents rearrange furniture in their living room to serve as a local polling site for multiple elections. Now, she’ll be at the helm of California’s elections as the next Secretary of State — defending and expanding the right to vote and serving as the first African American to be California’s Chief Elections Officer.”

If confirmed, Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber would become the first African American Secretary of State in California history.

She has represented San Diego in the State Assembly since 2012 and was previously president of the San Diego Board of Education and a professor for 40 years.

“I am excited to be nominated for this historic appointment as the Secretary of State of California. I thank Governor Newsom for the confidence he’s placed in me and his belief that I will stand strong for California. Being the first African American woman in this position will be a monumental responsibility, but I know that I am up for the challenge. Expanding voting rights has been one of the causes of my career and will continue to motivate me as I assume my new constitutional duties,” said Dr. Weber. 

Weber, of San Diego, heads the California Legislative Black Caucus. The nomination is subject to approval in the Legislature. She presided over the Electoral College that met in Sacramento earlier this month.