New county redistricting map adopted, legal challenges loom

San Luis Obispo County's Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday, along party lines, to adopt Map A for redistricting, with Supervisors Debbie Arnold and John Peschong opposing the move. The newly-adopted map bears a striking resemblance to the one chosen in 2011, despite numerous calls from supporters for a change.

Proponents of the map change contended that the Patten Map was discriminatory and illegal. However, Supervisor Arnold cautioned both her colleagues and attendees that the court did not find the Patten map to be either of those things, according to a report by CalCoast News.

In December 2021, after a lengthy and contentious process, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to adopt the Patten Map, with Supervisors Bruce Gibson and Dawn Ortiz-Legg dissenting. The issue was a partisan one, with local Democrats seeking minimal changes while Republicans preferred cities and communities to remain intact. In 2021, several supporters of Democratic candidates threatened to file a lawsuit if the board majority chose the Patten Map.