The California Citizens Redistricting Commission wrapped up its work on Dec. 20—finalizing a set of new boundaries for state Senate, state Assembly, and congressional districts that will be in effect for the next decade.
The new maps—which account for population changes and the loss of a congressional district in California for the first time in state history—will likely cause northern Santa Barbara County to lose at least one of its current representatives (unless he moves).
According to the new lines, Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham’s (R-San Luis Obispo) 35th District will shift north past the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo county line. The district, which currently includes Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and Lompoc, will drop all those communities as well as Nipomo and Oceano in SLO County.
Going forward, Cunningham’s district will cover the majority of SLO County as well as a long, narrow stretch of coastal Monterey County and Santa Cruz County—from Big Sur to Capitola.
Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Guadalupe will move into the 37th District, which is currently represented in the Assembly by Steve Bennett (D-Ventura). After redistricting, though, Ventura will no longer be part of that district, which stretches from Nipomo south to Carpinteria.
Cunningham, who lives in Templeton, did not return a request for comment from the Sun about his new district before press time.
Experts say that Cunningham’s new district leaves him vulnerable to a Democratic challenger. His last election opponent, Dawn Addis, a Democrat from Morro Bay, has already announced her 2022 candidacy.
“Cunningham’s district would become a lot more Democratic,” Cal Poly Political Science professor Michael Latner told the Sun. “One of the things we’re seeing in California, for sure, is less incumbent protection. It looks like a lot more incumbents are in trouble.”
Santa Barbara County’s new 37th Assembly District also figures to lean Democratic with its inclusion of Santa Barbara city.
In state Senate and congressional redistricting, northern Santa Barbara County will see less change. Sen. Monique Limón’s (D-Goleta) district picks up territory in southern SLO County and will be renamed the 21st District.
U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) 24th congressional district continues to include all of Santa Barbara County. It drops areas of northern SLO County and picks up more territory in Ventura County, including Ojai.
“With the district being redrawn, I will work closely with my colleague Rep. Panetta to ensure all of San Luis Obispo County continues to be well-represented in Congress, and I will do the same for the areas of Ventura County that are being added to my district,” Carbajal said in a statement to the Sun.
