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Elections · Nov. 3, 2026

Money and turnout

What's on Whatcom County ballots, who is paying for the campaigns, and how many ballots are back. Money is as reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Updated Oct. 10, 2026 with issue 01PDC filings through Oct. 9Ballot returns start Oct. 20
Oct. 16Ballots mailed by
Oct. 20Daily return counts begin
Oct. 26Last day to register online or by mail
Nov. 3Election Day. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m.
Nov. 24County certifies results

Where the campaign money comes from

Bar length is money raised, compared within each race. Colors show where it came from, by the address on each contribution.

  • Whatcom ZIP codes
  • Elsewhere in Washington
  • Out of state
  • Unitemized small gifts
State Senate, 42nd District
Erika Creydt (R)$397,140
15% from Whatcom
Michael Alvarez Shepard (D)$150,052
39% from Whatcom

Outside groups, which spend without coordinating with a campaign, have reported $309,527 against Shepard and $92,550 for him, and $66,550 against Creydt and $10,742 for her. Totals cover the whole 2026 cycle, including the Aug. 4 primary.

State House, 42nd District, Position 1
Alicia Rule (D)$180,707
4% from Whatcom
Misty Flowers (R)$17,170
38% from Whatcom

Outside groups: $7,156 reported for Rule.

State House, 42nd District, Position 2
Joe Timmons (D)$205,504
6% from Whatcom
Justin Pike (R)$227,309
16% from Whatcom

Outside groups: $50,069 against Timmons and $7,156 for him; $23,194 for Pike.

Whatcom County Prosecutor
Ryan Swinburnson (No party)$42,199
51% from Whatcom
Jesse Corkern (D)$78,261
58% from Whatcom
Port Commissioner, District 4
Paul Burrill$15,333
33% from Whatcom
Tor Benson$13,241
62% from Whatcom
Port Commissioner, District 5
Chris Elder$11,018
29% from Whatcom
Shawn Ensley$8,520
47% from Whatcom
State House, 40th District, Position 1
Debra Lekanoff (D)$77,274
3% from Whatcom
Cindy Carter (R)$27,883
0% from Whatcom
State House, 40th District, Position 2
Alex Ramel (D)$83,798
19% from Whatcom
Joseph Segault (No party)$0 reported

The pattern: the local races draw the most from Whatcom addresses. In the legislative races, most money comes from elsewhere in Washington. In four of the six 42nd District campaigns, organizations (party committees, PACs, businesses and unions) gave 80% to 85% of the money.

Also on the ballot: PUD 1 Commissioner, District 1 (Eddy Ury and Frank Imhof). Ury filed under the PDC's small-campaign option, which doesn't require itemized reports, and Imhof told the PDC in May he'd stopped campaigning, though his name stays on the ballot. Two District Court judges are unopposed.

As of Oct. 9, 2026. PDC campaign summaries and itemized contributions, updated as campaigns file. Candidates in ballot order. Method

Local measures on the ballot

  • Bellingham Initiative 26-01Bans landlords from agreeing on rents and from using shared pricing software that recommends rents to multiple landlords.Money: $81,170 raised for it, mostly from the Inatai Foundation ($50,000) and People First Bellingham ($31,164). No committee against it has registered.
  • Bellingham Prop. 2026-06Lets the City's salary commission set the mayor's pay, replacing the rule that the mayor earns at least as much as the highest-paid City employee.
  • Bellingham Prop. 2026-07Allows electronic signatures and lets the mayor's designee sign City contracts.
  • Lynden Prop. 2026-05Property tax increase (levy lid lift) to $1.54 per $1,000 of assessed value for police, fire, parks, streets and restored staff.
  • Fire District 1 Prop. 2026-08Property tax increase (levy lid lift) to up to $1.48 per $1,000 for fire and emergency medical services.

Statewide: an initiative to repeal the income tax on income over $1 million (IP26-645), and two initiatives to the Legislature on parents' rights in schools (IL26-001) and who can compete in girls' school sports (IL26-638).

Ballot: Whatcom County sample ballot. Money: PDC, as of Oct. 9. Only measures with a registered committee show money. Method

Turnout: the yardstick

Starts Oct. 20Daily counts begin two weeks before Election Day

Each update will show how many Whatcom ballots are back, as a percentage of what the last midterm reached by the end.

2018 midterm, final77.1%
2022 midterm, final (the yardstick)70.9%
2024 presidential, final82.9%

In 2022, 111,791 of 157,683 registered Whatcom voters returned a ballot. Midterms usually draw fewer voters than presidential years.

Final certified turnout, Secretary of State results archive. 2026 returns will come from the state's daily ballot return statistics. Method

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