The four-decade battle to preserve Sonoma County’s scenic coast from offshore oil drilling came to an apparent end Thursday as federal officials announced plans to expand two marine sanctuaries, putting an area the size of Delaware off-limits to energy development.

With her time in Congress running short, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, is pursuing a new approach to protecting more of the North Coast from oil drilling — one that doesn’t require a vote in the Republican-controlled House.

Emotions in Sonoma County ranged from elation and praise to resigned acceptance after President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage. Advocates were exhilarated that Obama declared his support after remaining elusive on the topic for years. And opponents, while disagreeing with Obama’s position, said they were not surprised.

If the first map released by the California Redistricting Commission brought the second-guessers out of the woodwork, the second one is a topic custom-built for the entire spectrum of wonks and political junkies. PD columnist Gaye LeBaron discusses the history of redistricting in Sonoma County with an old friend, Sam the Shark.

Rep. Lynn Woolsey urged North Bay residents to write to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission objecting to its plan to create a coastal congressional district from Marin County to the Oregon border. But she says the plan had nothing to do with her decision to retire.

California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday hailed a Senate committee’s approval of their bill to expand two North Coast marine sanctuaries that would permanently prohibit offshore oil drilling.

Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane is fuming today over a vote by Rep. Lynn Woolsey supporting legislation Zane says will “open the flood gates to us becoming a Northern California Las Vegas.”

Beyond the headlines – Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer winning – there are some interesting details coming from California exit polls. Among the details, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee, are: – Voters in the gubernatorial election were more inclined to support an insider with experience than an outsider looking to [...]

The Press Democrat Editorial Board endorsed incumbent Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate race. Did the PD Editorial Board make the right pick? Disagree with the choice? Discuss the endorsement here.

The annual barbecue held by Sonoma County Democrats at Doyle Park was a forum Saturday for Sen. Barbara Boxer to lambaste her Republican opponent, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.