Two Democrats vie for state Assembly seat

The race to represent the state Assembly district that includes Petaluma is shaping up between two Democrats after the lone Republican in the race withdrew a recount challenge of the primary results.

On the night of the June 7 primary, Republican Gregory Allen of Novato was in second place behind Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, with Democrat Veronica Jacobi in third. The top two finishers regardless of party affiliation advance to the November general election.

After a full count of all ballots, including absentee ballots, Jacobi, a former Santa Rosa city councilwoman, ended up 1,151 votes ahead of Allen, who informed election officials he was weighing a recount request. Allen, who ran for Assembly in 2014, decided two weeks ago to drop the challenge. The count could have taken up to 10 days, and Allen would have be billed $3,200 a day.

The Nov. 8 election will be the second time that voters in the 10th Assembly District will choose between two Democrats since California’s top two primary system rolled out in 2012. Levine defeated incumbent Democrat Michael Allen in 2012.

Political analysts say Levine is heavily favored in the largely liberal district that includes all of Marin County and southern Sonoma County. He is well-funded and has name recognition as the incumbent.

Levine said he wants to continue working in Sacramento on issues he feels are important, including gun control, education funding and climate change. He said his campaign would be ramping up as it gets closer to the fall.

“The top two election process doesn’t change my approach one bit,” he said of facing a Democratic challenger. “It’s important to earn every vote.”

Jacobi, a mechanical engineer, said she is positioned to the left of Levine, especially on environmental issues. She said climate change is her top issue.

“(Levine) is a corporate Democrat. I’m a blue-green progressive Democrat,” she said. “We are not doing enough on climate change. Soon enough, there are going to be consequences.”

David McCuan, a Sonoma State University political scientist, said that Levine is still among the more liberal politicians in Sacramento.

“He’s shown a willingness to work with more liberal activists on some issues,” he said.

(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)