Can Jordan Cunningham help save SLO County from his own Republican Party?
In the end, the Jordan Cunningham made the practical choice.
He opted not to run for a fourth term in the state Assembly, rather than fight to keep his seat in a redrawn district that now leans even more Democratic.
That’s not his official reason for stepping down. His prepared statement mentions nothing about the new map adopted by the bipartisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
“While I suspect my time in politics is not done. I look forward to spending more time with my family, coaching youth sports, and growing our businesses,” it says in part. (Cunningham, a former San Luis Obispo County deputy district attorney, has a private law practice.)
We hope he’s serious about staying active in politics, because San Luis Obispo could use his voice — if not as a candidate than perhaps as a behind-the-scenes influencer for a local Republican Party that’s fallen off the rails.
Assemblyman’s moderate record
Cunningham belongs to an increasingly rare breed — he’s a reasonable Republican who doesn’t foam at the mouth when discussing the opposition party, a la Kevin McCarthy or Devin Nunes.
His voting record is middle-of-the road; in a CalMatters analysis of 13,922 votes cast in the 2019-20 session, Cunningham was one of just a handful of Republicans who ranked as moderate.
That’s served him well in his political career.
Even as SLO County turned more and more purple — Democrats now hold a sizable lead over Republicans — Cunningham easily won the majority of the county vote.
But for the first time in decades, it’s highly likely that San Luis Obispo County will be represented by a Democrat in the state Assembly.
The new map radically changed district lines; instead of reaching into northern Santa Barbara County, it now extends into the coastal areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, which are heavily Democratic.
Even the number has changed. San Luis Obispo County is now in District 30, rather than 35.
What’s next for Cunningham?
As one of the top-ranking, most-respected Republicans in San Luis Obispo County, Jordan Cunningham is in a position to become a standard bearer for the local GOP establishment, which is badly in need of a new voice.
The SLO County Republican Party has drifted radically right. Solidly in Trump’s corner, it’s been employing any means necessary to disenfranchise Democrats, including gerrymandering and voting restrictions.
The county has become painfully polarized to the point where it’s no longer recognizable as the friendly community that once earned SLO the honor of being named the happiest place in the U.S.A.
Instead, we’ve become known as the place that hounded its top election official, County/Clerk Recorder Tommy Gong, out of office.
A place that objected to sending a vote-by-mail ballot to every registered voter.
A place that’s now embroiled in a lawsuit over redistricting because far-right leadership on the Board of Supervisors wouldn’t even attempt to reach a compromise on district boundaries.
So yes, we’re asking Assemblyman Cunningham to step outside his comfort zone to help pull his party back from the brink.
It won’t be easy.
So far, he’s done a good job of distancing himself from partisan battles, especially when it comes to national politics.
During the 2020 campaign, for instance, he declined to comment on whether he supported Donald Trump’s reelection bid.
Nor did he condemn the “stop the steal” lie that started circulating shortly after President Biden’s election.
That was disappointing, though on brand for a low-key politician who focuses on constituent service and problem solving.
In that respect, he’s been highly effective.
For example, when thousands of Central Coast residents were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic and unable to get through to the Employment Development Department for their benefits, Cunningham reached out and helped them navigate a broken system.
Now there’s another, even more far-reaching problem to solve.
San Luis Obispo County is torn apart politically like never before.
Assemblyman Cunningham, you may be stepping off the Sacramento stage at the end of the year, but you can be off huge service here at home.
Our democracy needs your voice, now more than ever.