Ballots for the Aug. 4 primary were mailed to voters across Whatcom County on Wednesday.
Federal, state and local positions and measures coming before Blaine and Birch Bay residents include:
2nd Congressional District: Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett), is being challenged in his reelection bid for a two-year term. Others seeking the seat are Edwin Feller (R-Lynden), Tomas Scheel (D-Ferndale) and Devin Hermanson (D-Seattle).
State Senator, 42nd Legislative District: Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) is not seeking reelection to a four-year term. Hopefuls include Erika Creydt (R-Blaine), Michael Shepard (D-Bellingham), Eamonn Collins (D-Bellingham) and Ryan Bowman (no party-Bellingham).
State Representative Position 1, 42nd Legislative District: Incumbent Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) is being challenged for a two-year term by Whatcom County Republican Party chair Misty Flowers (R-Bellingham), who has run unsuccessfully for county positions over the past few years.
State Representative Position 2, 42nd Legislative District: Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) is being challenged in his reelection bid for a two-year term held by Justin Pike (R-Ferndale), a detective at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Whatcom County Prosecutor: Four people are battling to be the county’s top prosecutor after Eric Richey decided to not seek reelection. Contenders for the four-year term include Jesse Corkern, Erik Sigmar and Dona Bracke — all in the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Defense attorney Ryan Swinburnson, who is also Blaine School Board president, is vying for the seat as well.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4: A voter-approved ballot measure last year expanded the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners from three to five. Candidates for the new seat are Blaine residents Dean Berkeley and Jaden McConnell, Lynden residents Tim Chartier and Paul Burrill, and Ferndale residents Tor Benson and Samantha Cruz-Mendoza.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5: Also a new position created by the voter-approved ballot measure that expanded the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners from three to five. Contenders are Todd Lagestee, Bellingham; Randall Wood, Everson; Spenser New, Deming; Jerry Burns, Maple Falls; Shawn Ensley, Bellingham; and Chris Elder, Acme.
Proposition 2026-03: Levy lid lift for Fire District 21, also known as North Whatcom Fire and Rescue. If approved by voters, the measure would increase the property tax collected for the fire district from $0.77 to $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The measure would allow the district to collect up to $118.6 million during the six-year levy for fire and emergency medical services.
It marks the fire district’s fourth attempt to have voters approve a levy lid lift; previous efforts occurred once in 2024 and twice in 2021.
In other races, incumbents Angela Anderson and Jonathan Rands are running unopposed for their Whatcom County District Court judge seats. The election will also have a slate of precinct committee officer candidates, a challenge for PUD No. 1 Commissioner District 1 and Washington state Supreme Court justice positions.
Voters may vote as soon as they receive their ballots, either by mail, drop box returns, or in person at the Auditor’s Office.
Area drop box locations include the parking lot for the Blaine Library, 610 3rd St., and the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue parking lot, 4581 Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
Go to whatcomcounty.us/199/Auditor for more information about the primary.
