Preliminary results for the August 5 primary election show clear winners headed to the November general election and a few races still waiting on updated counts.
The election is a top-two primary, meaning the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November 4 general election, regardless of party affiliation. Races that did not have more than two candidates were not on August ballots and will move automatically to the November election.
About 34,860 ballots were counted across Whatcom County on election night, constituting around 25 percent of registered voters. According to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, there are another 1,000 ballots left to count.
Blaine City Council
In the race for Blaine City Council Ward 2 Position 4, Isaac Newland came out ahead with 50.5 percent in support (160 votes). He’ll face Ray Leone, who was favored by 38.2 percent (121 votes), in November. Steven Tojek received 11.4 percent (36 votes).
Port of Bellingham
As for the Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2 position, incumbent Ken Bell stepped out to a wide margin over first-time challengers Carly James and Kaylin A. Bosley, earning 60.7 percent (7,773 votes). James earned the second spot, with 34.2 percent (4,384 votes).
Whatcom County Council
The Whatcom County Council District 2 race, which represents north Bellingham, saw Elizabeth Boyle come out ahead with 55.1 percent (4,409 votes). Whether she’ll face Maya Morales or Mike Cullum is yet to be determined as the two candidates were neck-and-neck with one vote separating them. By first count, Cullum was in the lead with 22.2 percent (1,776 votes).
The race for Whatcom County Council District 3, representing east county, is showing a favoritism to position newcomers Jessica Rienstra and Kyle Christensen over incumbent Tyler Byrd. Rienstra received 48.7 percent (4,088 votes), while Christensen garnered 23.3 percent (1,959 votes) and Byrd trailed behind with 20.8 percent (1,743 votes). Another contestant, Daniel Probst, received 6.9 percent (579 votes).
Whatcom County Library System levy
Proposition 2025-02, a ballot measure to restore the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) property tax to $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed home value, appeared to pass with 55.7 percent of returned ballots, or 14,751 voters, approving the levy lid lift.
This will be the first property tax rate increase from the library district since 2009. The library system levy rate had dropped to $0.26 as assessed home values rose and state law limiting a one percent annual increase on levy collection.
For an owner of a house valued at $600,000, the increase will cost an additional $8 per month, or $96 annually, to their property tax payment, according to WCLS.
Results in this article were released at 8:05 p.m. August 5. For updated results and precinct-level data, visit bit.ly/40SCcn2. Results will be certified Tuesday, August 19.
Nolan Baker contributed to the reporting of this article.
