AM Alert: Covered California launches bus tour for second open enrollment

California’s new health insurance exchange can boast of a fairly successful first year.

While rollout of the national program was plagued by enormous technical glitches and intense political pushback, Covered California enrolled 1.2 million residents in health care plans and touted lower annual premium increases. Support for the Affordable Care Act inched up in California, and the exchange’s executive director, Peter Lee, was rewarded with a $52,528 bonus.

As the exchange prepares for its second open enrollment period, starting on Nov. 15, Covered California will try to repeat those gains. Officials, including Lee, will embark on a nine-day, 21-city bus tour across the state to promote the launch, departing this morning from the Capitol.

The bus tour is part of a $95 million community outreach campaign to bolster Covered California in its second year. The exchange is expecting to increase enrollment to 1.7 million by next February.

GOING GREEN: New state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León said last month that creating “green jobs” in California is a priority under his leadership. He’s not alone. Represenatives from the White House, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Sierra Club will discuss how they have been working to build a “blue-green” economy – a strong clean energy sector that supports middle-class careers – 9:30 a.m. at the Zero Net Energy Center in San Leandro.

ELECTION RESULTS: After looking to be on his way out on election night, Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, has defeated Republican challenger Carl DeMaio. With Peters ahead by 4,491 votes on Sunday, DeMaio conceded the race. Meanwhile, unexpectedly trailing incumbents Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, D-Los Angeles, and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, have pulled within 32 votes and 78 votes of their opponents, respectively.

Here are the latest results for the nine outstanding California legislative and congressional races. Tight contests in CD 17 and CD 31 were called for Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, and Democrat Pete Aguilar on Friday. There were no updates in the local battle between Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, and Republican Doug Ose.

This story was originally published November 9, 2014 at 10:00 PM.