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In Whatcom and Skagit counties, the primary election had few hotly contested races but still drew impassioned voters to the ballot box. In Lynden, the second attempt at a school construction bond did not receive enough votes to pass, while only one of three Whatcom fire districts looks poised to pass its levy.
“We have a really engaged community that pays attention to local races, not just national races,” District 42 incumbent Position 1 Rep. Alicia Rule said on Tuesday night, Aug. 6. “I think our voters know the difference between D.C. and here. We’re closer to the ground here, we can get things done.”
Ryan Ziels, who dropped his ballot off at the Whatcom County courthouse on Tuesday evening, pointed out that voting in the primary was important because it sets the stage for the general election.
“I just think voting local issues is really what can impact your daily life,” Ziels said. “It’s important to cast every vote we can, especially for things that impact our region.”
According to the Whatcom County auditor’s office, 71,616 ballots were counted as of Thursday night, Aug. 8, or 44.1% of registered voters. In Skagit, participation was 25.3% based on Thursday’s count.
Whatcom has 342 ballots on hand to be counted, an amount that does not include late-arriving mail ballots, according to the auditor’s office. Skagit has an estimated 16,000 ballots left to count, not including late mail ballots. The results will be certified on Aug. 20.
Final tallies in the 2022 primary showed 48% turnout in Whatcom and 44% in Skagit.
“It’s what our country’s founded on …” Nathaniel Crocker said as he voted in Blaine on Tuesday. “I’m always shocked that more people don’t vote.”
In one surprising early result, in the race for District 42 Position 1 representative seat, incumbent Rule and Republican challenger Raymond Pelletti are in a dead heat, each with a little over 22,000 votes as of Thursday night. Both will progress to the general election. Incumbent Position 2 Rep. Joe Timmons and Republican challenger Kamal Bhachu will automatically advance to the general election.
Preliminary results in District 39’s state Senate race show a traditional matchup between a political newcomer and an incumbent. Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, will run against John Snow in November.
In a crowded District 39 house race, Republican Position 1 incumbent Rep. Sam Low is leading his next closest challenger Robert Sutherland. With only two people seeking election for Position 2, it was no secret newcomer Jackie Huey, a Republican, would face Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan.
In District 40, only one legislative seat is contested. Incumbent Sen. Liz Lovelett and challenger Charles Carrell will both run again in the general election, while Rep. Debra Lekanoff and Rep. Alex Ramel are running unopposed to retain their seats in the Washington state House of Representatives.
“There’s still plenty to do,” Ramel said about election season. “We need to show up for our constituents — the job is still to represent the people in our district.”
The incumbent is also favored in the Whatcom Public Utility District race for District 2. Atul Deshmane, who has served on the PUD board of commissioners since 2018, will likely face Dan Johnson in the general election.
In Skagit County, two seats on the county commission are open; Ron Wesen is currently leading Rylee Fleury in the District 1 race, and District 2 candidate Peter Browning is leading Richard Flint Brocksmith in preliminary results. All four commissioner candidates will advance to the general election.
Seven challengers lined up to take on incumbent Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen in the District 2 U.S. Congressional race. Larsen, who has served since 2001, will run against Cody Hart to hold his seat in November.
This was the third time Hart has run in the District 2 primary and the first time he’s made it through. The self-proclaimed MAGA Republican’s popularity has steadily increased since he first ran in 2020.
Three Whatcom County fire districts asked voters to approve tax increases in the Aug. 6 election, but only one seems likely to pass.
After failing in the April special election by a single vote, Fire District 17’s levy has 55.5% of votes in favor as of Thursday night, with 722 votes counted.
A levy for Fire District 21, or the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, has only 42.2% votes in favor, with 11,576 votes counted.
Fire District 1’s $13 million bond needs 60% of voters in favor to pass, but as of Thursday night it had only a simple majority of approval, 50.09%.
Lynden School District’s $157.5 million bond has failed for a second time, with nearly 54% of voters rejecting it.
State executive races drew attention this year, especially the gubernatorial race, which is an open race for the first time since 2012, with Gov. Jay Inslee not seeking reelection. Of the many candidates attempting to succeed Inslee, only Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert will advance to the general election.
In the race to replace Ferguson as attorney general, Republican Pete Serrano is leading Democrat Nick Brown.
Three candidates in the race for Washington State Lands Commissioner, former GOP congressional Rep. Jaime Beutler, Republican Sue Pederson and Democrat Dave Upthegrove, were too close to call after Thursday’s count. Only two will advance to the general election.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrat Maria Cantwell had a significant lead over challenger Raul Garcia in early statewide returns.
The general election on Nov. 5 includes a presidential race, a gubernatorial race and other hotly contested statewide races, as well as several high-profile ballot initiatives.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
