By Grace McCarthy
Filing week has come and gone, and a new group of candidates are set to ramp up their campaigns ahead of the Aug. 4 primary. The election will send the top-two finishers to the November election, regardless of party affiliation, for races that range from Congress to new Port of Bellingham commissioners.
Below is a list of candidates who will be on Blaine and Birch Bay voters’ ballots come August.
- Congress Representative, District 2: A two-year term held by Rick Larsen (D-Everett). Larsen is being challenged by Edwin Feller (R-Lynden), Tomas Scheel (D-Ferndale) and Devin Hermanson (D-Seattle).
- State Senator, 42nd Legislative District: A four-year term held by Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham), who is not seeking re-election. The candidates are Erika Creydt (R-Blaine), Michael Shepard (D-Bellingham), Eamonn Collins (D-Bellingham) and Ryan Bowman (no party-Bellingham).
- State Representative Pos. 1, 42nd Legislative District: A two-year term held by Alicia Rule (D-Blaine). Rule is being challenged by Whatcom County Republican Party chair Misty Flowers (R-Bellingham), who has run unsuccessfully for county positions over the past few years.
- State Representative Pos. 2, 42nd Legislative District: A two-year term held by Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham). Timmons is being challenged by Justin Pike (R-Ferndale), a detective at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
- Whatcom County Prosecutor: A four-year term held by Eric Richey, who is not running for re-election. The position will see Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office senior leaders Jesse Corkern, Erik Sigmar and Donna Bracke battle it out in the August primary alongside defense attorney Ryan Swinburnson, who is also Blaine School Board president.
- Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4: A new position created from a voter-approved ballot measure last year that expanded the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners from three to five. The candidates 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: A new position created from a voter-approved ballot measure last year that expanded the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners from three to five. The candidates running in August are Todd Lagestee, Bellingham; Randall Wood, Everson; Spenser New, Deming; Jerry Burns, Maple Falls; Shawn Ensley, Bellingham; and Chris Elder, Acme.
Incumbents Angela Anderson and Jonathan Rands are running unopposed for their Whatcom County District Court judge positions. The election will also have a slate of precinct committee officer candidates, a challenge for PUD No. 1 Commissioner District 1 and openings for Washington state Supreme Court justice positions.
This article was edited to reflect that Raymond Pelletti (R-Blaine), a real estate agent who unsuccessfully ran for state representative in 2024, has withdrew his candidacy for Congress Representative, District 2.
