Erika Weaver
Erika Weaver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Mattoon Community Board of Education | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1973 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Eastern Illinois University (BA) Loyola University Chicago School of Law (JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Erika Weaver (born August 30, 1973) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Mattoon Community Board of Education. In the 2020 election, Weaver was the Democratic nominee for Illinois's 15th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. She lost the election to Republican Mary Miller.[1]
Early life and education[edit]
As a young woman, Weaver would constantly enter contests, winning many of them and earning free trips to the Virgin Islands, Cancun, and Paris. She organized an autograph signing at a Mattoon, Illinois Wal-Mart for a young pre-NBA basketball player Dee Brown[disambiguation needed].[2] She attended Lake Land College, where she earned an Associate’s degree in Business Administration. She then transferred to Eastern Illinois University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Sports, & Recreation and a Master's degree in College Student Affairs. Weaver went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.[3]
Career[edit]
Weaver worked as an academic counselor at Lake Land College.[4] During her final semester at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, she was elected to the Mattoon CUSD2 Board of Education. After graduating from [[law school], Weaver worked with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, and she worked a part-time job while studying to take the bar exam. After passing the bar, Weaver worked at a private practice before she began working at the Coles County Public Defender’s office.[5]
2020 U.S. congressional election for Illinois’s 15th congressional district[edit]
After Representative John Shimkus announced his retirement from Congress, Weaver announced her candidacy to be the United States Representative from Illinois’s 15th congressional district. Weaver ran against three opponents: Kevin Gaither, John W. Hursey, Jr, and Craig Morton. Weaver won the Democratic primary, capturing 51.9 percent of the vote with 17,778 votes.[6] She went on to lose the general election against Republican nominee Mary Miller, garnering 26% of the vote against Miller’s 73%.[7]
Electoral history[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mary Miller | 244,947 | 73.4% | |
| Democratic | Erika Weaver | 88,559 | 26.6 | |
| Total votes | 333,506 | 93 | ||
Personal life[edit]
Weaver is a single mother of three, and she was once homeless. After being accepted into law school, she deferred the start of her legal education for two years, because she couldn’t afford to relocate her family to the Chicago area. Weaver is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ WATZNAUER, KELSEY (November 4, 2020). "AP: Republican Mary Miller wins 15th Congressional District". Lee Enterprises. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ DAWSON, RICK (November 11, 2006). "Lake Land student pursues NFL internship". Carl Walworth. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ MCCLURE, JULIE (October 13, 2020). "Illinois 15th District: Mary Miller vs. Erika Weaver". Smile Politely Media, Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ "She Runs Illinois 2020! — Erika C. Weaver, candidate for IL-15 Congressional District". September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ "ERIKA WEAVER". Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ Amy Winter (March 17, 2020). "Miller, Weaver win nominations in 15th Congressional District". Effingham Daily News. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ "Illinois Election Results: 15th Congressional District". Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ↑ Brock, Corryn (October 29, 2020). "Miller, Weaver face off for House". Eastern Illinois University. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
External links[edit]
- Erika Weaver for US Congress campaign website
- Erika Weaver at Ballotpedia
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