News

Official candidate list released for August 2026 primary election

Official candidate list released for August 2026 primary election

Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Walker


BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The ballot for August’s primary election is officially set.

The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office wrapped up Candidate Filing Week on Friday.

Congressional and state Legislature

Incumbent Democrat US Congressman Rick Larsen will face four opponents for his seat. Democrats Devin Hermanson and Tomas Scheel, along with Republicans Edwin Feller and Raymond Pelletti, are looking to break Larsen’s quarter-century tenure in Washington’s Congressional District 2.

A state Senate seat is up for grabs in the 42nd District after current Sen. Sharon Shewmake announced her intent not to run for re-election. Two Democrats, Michael Shepard and Eamonn Collins; Republican Erika Creydt, and Ryan Bowman, a candidate without a party affiliation, are all vying for her seat in the State Legislature.

As for state Representatives, both positions in District 42 and the first position in District 40 have one Democrat and one Republican apiece running for the roles.

District 42’s first position will see incumbent Democrat state Rep. Alicia Rule facing off against Republican Misty Flowers. The second position also features incumbent Democrat State Rep. Joe Timmons and Republican challenger Justin Pike.

In District 40, the first position seat has incumbent Democrat State Rep. Debra Lekanoff running against Republican Cindy Carter. District 40’s second position race features incumbent Democrat state Rep. Alex Ramel, two Independents, Salomon Mbouombouo and Monty Mahan; and Joseph Segault, a candidate without a party affiliation.

Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney

Meanwhile, it looks like we’re going to see a few contentious races at the local level.

Whatcom County’s prosecuting attorney job will see four candidates gunning for the position in the August Primary. Eric Richey is not seeking reelection to the position he has held since 2018, fulfilling two four-year terms.

Democrats Jesse Corkern, Erik Sigmar and Dona Bracke and Ryan Swinburnson, a candidate without a party affiliation, all filed for the prosecuting attorney’s position with the county.

Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners

The Port of Bellingham will be expanding its ranks this election season.

Two new seats on the Board of Commissioners were added during last November’s vote and this year we will see who will fill those roles. Six different people are running for each new district that mirrors the county council seats. The Port’s districts were redrawn to accommodate the new commissioners last winter.

For District 4, Tim Chartier, Dean Berkeley, Tor Benson, Jaden McConnell, Paul Burrill and Samantha Cruz-Mendoza have filed to run in the primary.

The district includes much of the middle section of unincorporated Whatcom County, stretching from the east edge of Lummi Reservation on the coast to the Canadian border. It also includes Meridian and the City of Lynden.

District 5 will see Todd Lagestee, Randall Wood, Spenser New, Jerry Bruns, Shawn Ensley and Chris Elder all running for the two seats that will move on from the primary.

The district runs along the east and south portion of the county, including part of Larrabee State Park, Nooksack Reservation, Acme, Maple Falls and Glacier.

Ballots for the upcoming primary election are due by August 4.

Recent Headlines

15 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Last call? States look to extend bar and restaurant hours during the World Cup

World Cup fans in a growing number of U.S. cities won't have an issue finding a well-poured pint to go with their late-night match. State leaders across the U.S. are signing off on extending bar and restaurant hours during the world's most-watched sporting event.

15 hours ago in Entertainment

Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married

Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner are married, local officials in London confirmed to The Associated Press. They tied the knot Sunday at Old Marylebone Town Hall.

15 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Serena Williams is returning to pro tennis at age 44 after nearly 4 years away from the sport

Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis at the age of 44 after nearly four years away from the sport. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has accepted a wild-card invitation to play doubles at the upcoming Queen's Club grass-court tournament in London, the WTA Tour announced Monday.

21 hours ago in Entertainment

A guide to the bookstores owned by your favorite authors

Amazon remains the dominant force, but physical, brick-and-mortar stores have rebounded — and stores owned by authors such as Ann Patchett are now a niche unto themselves, found everywhere from Brooklyn to New Mexico.

21 hours ago in Entertainment

YouTuber box office boom: ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ draw Gen Z to theaters

Young audiences turned out in droves to movie theaters around the country this weekend. It wasn't for the big budget "Star Wars" movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu, " which fell sharply in its second weekend, however, but for a small budget horror from a 20-year-old first-time filmmaker that began on the internet.