Dantona, Paulding lead in San Luis Obispo County supervisor races
Dramatic Turnaround in District 2 Supervisor Race
Jim Dantona has dramatically reversed course in the race for San Luis Obispo County District 2 supervisor, erasing a 241-vote deficit from election night to now lead challenger Michael Erin Woody by 210 votes following Thursday's ballot count update. The shift came after the clerk-recorder's office counted an additional 9,580 ballots, according to CalCoastNews.
Dantona currently has 4,271 votes (51.26%) compared to Woody's 4,061 votes (48.74%), according to KEYT News Channel 3-12. The race is to fill the seat held by Bruce Gibson since 2007, who announced in 2025 he would not seek reelection after nearly two decades representing the North Coast.
District 4 Race Remains Competitive
In District 4, incumbent Jimmy Paulding extended his lead over challenger Adam Verdin to 788 votes, though the race remains competitive. Paulding, who currently serves as Board Chair, has weathered close supervisor races before, losing his initial 2018 bid by just 60 votes before winning in 2022.
The District 4 seat represents South County communities including Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Oceano, and unincorporated areas.
Thousands of Ballots Still Uncounted
With over 60,804 unprocessed ballots remaining, County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano told New Times that approximately 30,000 ballots countywide still need processing, not including those that arrived by mail on election day.
The county elections office plans to release another update on Monday. Election workers resumed counting Thursday after taking Wednesday off for processing.
What's at Stake for Local Governance
The outcome of both races could significantly impact county governance. District 2 encompasses coastal communities from Los Osos north to Ragged Point, including Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria and San Simeon.
Dantona, Gibson's current chief of staff and former San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce CEO, faces Woody, a civil engineer running as an independent. Both candidates need to capture 50% plus one vote to avoid a November runoff.
Next Steps in Vote Counting
Cano estimated voter turnout will reach approximately 50%, with more than 80% of voters using mail-in ballots. The county may prioritize processing ballots from the two contested supervisor districts to provide candidates with earlier updates given the close margins.
The winners will be sworn in on January 5, 2027, beginning four-year terms on the five-member Board of Supervisors.
Reported by 805.life
Researched and written drawing on primary sources. Additional reporting: CalCoastNews.
City
San Luis ObispoAdditional Reporting
CalCoastNewsPublished
June 5, 2026
Reported and written by 805.life
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