[1] In 1932 he ran for the Democrat nomination for the U. S. Senate, but lost to incumbent Carl Hayden.

[2][3] Akers attended Phoenix Union High School,[4] and after graduating, he joined the U. S. Navy, and served throughout World War I.

However, his father, owner of the Arizona Gazette, died that year, and Akers returned to Phoenix to help run the paper.

[2] In 1926, Akers ran for one of the two Arizona State Senate seats from Maricopa County.

[6] In the November general election, Akers and fellow Democrat Dan P. Jones, won.