Image by BMN Citizen Reporter Greg Thames
WHATCOM, COUNTY, WA — Candidate filing has closed in Whatcom County, and voters now have their first real look at the races that will shape this year’s election season.
From Congress to Olympia, from the Port of Bellingham to the courthouse, dozens of candidates have stepped forward. Some races will be familiar. Others are wide open. A few may become some of the most watched contests in Northwest Washington and several could have a major impact on taxes, public safety, local jobs, and the future of county government.
For voters, filing week can feel like paperwork. For candidates, it is the moment they officially put their name on the line. And for the community, it is the first sign of what kind of choices will appear on the ballot.
At the top of the ballot, Washington’s 2nd Congressional District drew a crowded field. Longtime Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen is seeking another term. Larsen, who has represented the district since 2001, enters the race as the best-known name and the clear establishment candidate.
But he will not be alone. Fellow Democrats Tomas Scheel and Devin Hermanson have also filed, along with Republicans Edwin H. Feller and Raymond Pelletti. Washington’s top-two primary system means the real competition may begin before November. The two candidates who receive the most votes in August advance to the general election, regardless of party.
That gives challengers on both the left and right a meaningful early window to make their case to voters.
Closer to home, the 42nd Legislative District may once again become Whatcom County’s political fault line. The district has long been a bellwether for the region where rural and urban, conservative and progressive, business and labor all meet and contest the same ground.
In the Senate race, Democrats Michael Alvarez Shepard and Eamonn Collins filed, along with Republican Erika Creydt and Ryan Bowman, who listed no party preference. In the House races, Democrat Alicia Rule will face Republican Misty Flowers in Position 1, while Democrat Joe Timmons will face Republican Justin Pike in Position 2.
Those races are likely to bring familiar but important questions back to the front: housing costs, public safety, taxes, the environment, tribal issues, education, and how state government affects working families in Whatcom County.
In the neighboring 40th Legislative District, Democratic incumbents Debra Lekanoff and Alex Ramel have filed for reelection. The 40th has long leaned Democratic, especially on environmental, housing, and tribal policy issues. Lekanoff, the only Native American woman serving in the state House, will again be a high-profile candidate. Challengers include Republican Cindy Carter and independents Monte Jay Mahan and Salomon Rodrigue Mbouombouo.
Beyond Olympia and D.C., several local races will also shape daily life in Whatcom County for years to come. One of the most interesting local stories this year is the Port of Bellingham. Voters approved expanding the Port Commission from three members to five, and the new District 4 and District 5 seats are being filled for the first time. Voters are not just choosing candidates they are helping shape what the expanded commission will become.
District 4, covering much of northern Whatcom County including areas around Lynden, Ferndale, and Blaine, drew six candidates: Samantha Cruz-Mendoza, Tim Chartier, Paul Burrill, Dean Berkeley, Tor Benson, and Jaden McConnell. District 5 also drew a crowded field, with Todd Lagestee, Chris Elder, Shawn Ensley, Randall Wood, Spenser New, and Jerry Burns all filing.
The Port races may not always get the same attention as partisan legislative races, but the issues are significant and tangible. Commissioners will make decisions involving airport expansion, waterfront redevelopment, marine trade jobs, environmental cleanup, and how to balance industrial uses with public access to some of the county’s most valuable land.
Those decisions will help shape Whatcom County’s economy and waterfront for decades. With crowded fields in both new districts, the August primary will be decisive. Only the top two candidates in each race will advance.
The Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney race may become one of the clearest debates over experience, reform, and public trust. Four candidates filed: Dona Bracke, Jesse Corkern, Erik Sigmar, and Ryan Swinburnson.
Bracke, Corkern, and Sigmar all come from inside or near the current legal system, bringing years of courtroom experience. Swinburnson, a defense attorney and school board president who listed no party preference, is positioning himself as an outside challenger critical of current leadership.
Expect voters to hear arguments about public safety, charging decisions, relationships with law enforcement, and how the office should serve victims, defendants, and the wider public.
Farther down the ballot, statewide judicial races may deserve more attention than usual this year. Five of the nine Washington Supreme Court seats are on the ballot in 2026, an unusually large number that could affect the court’s direction for years to come.
The stakes are significant because the court may be asked to decide major questions about Washington’s taxing authority. One issue likely to draw voter attention is the state’s new income tax on high earners, a 9.9% levy on income above $1 million, with the first million exempt. Opponents have argued that income should be treated as property under Washington’s constitution, relying in part on older legal precedent that has historically limited graduated income taxes in the state.
The makeup of the court could matter if that challenge reaches the justices. These races are officially nonpartisan, but judicial philosophy including views on constitutional interpretation, precedent, and the limits of state power will matter to many voters. For voters who normally skip judicial races, this may be a year to slow down and learn the names.
Other local races will also deserve attention. PUD No. 1 Commissioner District 1 will appear on November ballots, with Eddy Ury and Frank Imhof advancing from the primary. The Public Utility District may not generate headlines, but it directly affects power rates, rural broadband access, and infrastructure reliability for thousands of Whatcom County households.
District Court races will feature Angela Anderson and Jonathan Rands heading to the general election. These courts handle the types of cases many residents are most likely to personally encounter, including misdemeanors, traffic matters, small claims, and domestic issues.
A sweeping view showcasing the U.S.-Canada border, Fairhaven, downtown Bellingham, and the marina area in Northwest Washington.
There is also heavy activity in Precinct Committee Officer races throughout the county. PCOs are the grassroots workers inside the Republican and Democratic parties. They help organize volunteers, support candidates, influence local party direction, and connect campaigns to neighborhoods. Strong PCO filing on both sides is a sign that Republican and Democratic organizers are preparing seriously for this cycle.
For citizens who care about the direction of the county, this is where the real work begins People can help candidates by donating, knocking doors, making phone calls, hosting meet-and-greets, putting up yard signs, writing letters to local papers, or simply having honest conversations with neighbors. Local races are often decided by small margins. A few volunteers can make a real difference.
Ballots for the August primary are expected to be mailed in late July. The general election will be held in November. The full candidate list and voter pamphlet will be available through the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.
The candidates have stepped forward. Now it is the voters’ turn to study the choices, ask tough questions, and decide what kind of community Whatcom County will be.
About the Author
Discover more from Bellingham Metro News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
