It’s an annual rite of the legislative session – the California Chamber of Commerce designates its job-killer bills. How will they fare this year?

Marc Levine, the North Bay’s new assemblyman, and Michael Allen, the man he replaced, each got lucrative appointments on Thursday courtesy of Speaker John Pérez.

Early returns show close races for Michael Allen and Proposition 37, while Measure Q supporters are faring better than the measure itself.

Two independent expenditure committees poured in nearly $500,000 to support Michael Allen in the waning days of his campaign against a fellow Democrat for a newly-drawn state Assembly seat, records show.
The Peace Officers Research Association of California kicked in $252,000, and the California Alliance put in another $238,000.
The alliance is comprised of consumer attorneys, conservationists and nurses. The money was spent on television ads opposing Marc Levine, who on Friday criticized the expenditures.

Of all the Sonoma County votes that went to Democrats in the 10th Assembly race, 57 percent of them went to someone other than Assemblyman Michael Allen. In Marin County, 63 percent went to Democrats other than Allen.

Paul Mitchell, a Democratic political consultant and redistricting guru, included this note in his pre-election summary today: Assemblymembers (Betsy) Butler, (Michael) Allen, (Allan) Mansoor, (Tim) Donnelly and Beth Gaines are all facing tough re-elections. Rumor has one of them coming in third or fourth depending on the poll, so brace yourself .”

We received a complaint this week from someone concerned that The Press Democrat dual endorsement in the races for the 2nd Assembly and 10th Assembly seats could throw off voters. Do you agree?

After supporting the casino in Rohnert Park as a labor leader, Assemblyman Michael Allen says he will vote “no” on the compact when the document comes up for a vote, possibly on Thursday. His election opponent calls it “beyond a flip-flop.”