Adam Verdin leads in race for SLO County supervisor campaign contributions

Candidates in two supervisor races rake in cash ahead of 2026 election

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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With two San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor seats up for grabs, the four candidates running are raising significant campaign funds. Adam Verdin, a Republican running for the District 4 seat, has raised the most money so far, collecting $164,490 in cash and loans. His opponent, incumbent Democratic Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, raised $144,344. In the District 2 race, Democrat Jim Dantona raised $56,630, while his opponent Michael Erin Woody, a registered independent, raised $37,550 with a $35,000 loan to his campaign.

Why it matters

Campaign finance is a key factor in local elections, as candidates need resources to get their message out and connect with voters. The fundraising totals provide insight into the competitiveness of these supervisor races and the priorities of the candidates and their supporters.

The details

In the District 4 race, Verdin's top donors include $11,800 from Covelop Inc., $5,900 from Steven Hollister, $5,200 from attorney Paul Ready and $5,000 from Charles Bell. Paulding's top donors were primarily unions, including $5,000 from the Central Coast Construction Trades, $4,000 from Southern California Trade Council and $4,000 from the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. In District 2, Dantona's top donors include $5,900 from Patrick Arnold, $5,000 from the IBEW Education Fund, $2,500 from the San Luis Obispo Cattleman's Political Action Committee and $2,500 from Strategic Communications in Manhattan Beach. Woody's donors were primarily tied to a group of people wanting to stop plans to industrialize Port San Luis and parts of Morro Bay.

  • Campaign finance reports cover the second half of 2025.
  • The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor elections will be held in 2026.

The players

Adam Verdin

A Republican candidate running for the District 4 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor seat, which includes Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and Oceano. Verdin is a local businessman, pilot, attorney and community leader who is focused on keeping communities safe, prosperous and affordable.

Jimmy Paulding

The incumbent Democratic Supervisor for District 4, who is running for reelection. Paulding primarily votes in lockstep with outgoing Supervisor Bruce Gibson and supports a battery storage plant in Nipomo, which is likely to be a key issue in the race.

Jim Dantona

A Democratic candidate running for the District 2 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor seat, which runs along the coast from San Simeon to Los Osos and includes a portion of San Luis Obispo. Dantona was previously the head of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and is a strong supporter of offshore wind energy and battery storage.

Michael Erin Woody

A registered independent candidate running for the District 2 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor seat. Woody, a licensed civil engineer and Salinan Indian tribal council member, has voiced opposition to the proposed offshore wind energy fields and battery storage facility, which are top issues for many residents in the district.

Bruce Gibson

The outgoing Supervisor for District 2, who is not running for reelection after nearly 20 years in the seat.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The fundraising totals in these supervisor races highlight the competitive nature of the contests and the priorities of the candidates and their supporters. Voters will have a clear choice between different visions for the future of San Luis Obispo County as they head to the polls in 2026.