Here’s who’s running to represent Whatcom in the August primary election
Filing period for the Aug. 4, 2020, primary election closed at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, finalizing races for the state’s “top two” primary.
That means the two candidates with the most votes for each office will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Ballots will be sent out July 15 for the vote-by-mail primary election.
All statewide offices are on the November ballot, along with the race for U.S. president.
Statewide offices also are on the August primary ballot.
Washington’s presidential primary was March 10 and won by Republican President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
Local races feature Whatcom County Superior Court judges, both seats in U.S. Congress that represent Whatcom County, both state House seats in the 42nd District covering part of Bellingham and northern Whatcom County, and both state House seats and the state Senate seat in the 40th District covering part of Bellingham and southern Whatcom County — along with San Juan County and part of Skagit County.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties also select precinct committee officers, or PCOs. These are party members who can influence endorsements and help organize at the grass-roots level.
U.S. Congress District 1
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Kirkland Democrat, will face six challengers:
▪ Jeffrey Beeler Sr. of Sultan, Republican.
▪ Robert Dean Mair of Redmond, no party preference.
▪ Steven Skelton of Snohomish, Libertarian.
▪ Derek Chartrand of Redmond, Republican.
▪ Matthew Heines of Redmond, no party preference.
▪ Justin Smoak of Bellingham, no party preference.
U.S. Congress District 2
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, an Everett Democrat, will face seven challengers:
▪ Jason Call of Marysville, Democrat.
▪ Timothy S. Hazelo of Oak Harbor, Republican.
▪ Kari Ilonummi of Arlington, Republican.
▪ Cody Hart of Sedro-Woolley, Republican.
▪ James Dean Golder of Oak Harbor, Republican.
▪ Carrie R. Kennedy of Oak Harbor, Republican.
▪ Tim Uy of Bellingham, “Trump Republican.”
40th Legislative District
▪ The incumbent in position 1, state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, a Democrat from Bow, is unopposed.
▪ Incumbent position 2 state Rep. Alex Ramel, a Democrat from Bellingham, is being challenged by Russ Dzialo, a Republican from Bellingham.
Ramel was appointed in January to finish the term of Jeff Morris, who resigned to take a job in the private sector.
▪ Incumbent state Sen. Liz Lovelett, a Democrat from Anacortes, is being challenged by Charles Carrell, a Republican from Burlington.
42nd Legislative District
▪ Incumbent position 1 state Rep. Luanne Van Werven, a Republican from Lynden, is being challenged by Democrat Alicia Rule, a member of the Blaine City Council.
▪ Incumbent position 2 state Rep. Sharon Shewmake, a Democrat from Bellingham, is being challenged by Republican Jennifer Sefzik of Custer.
Whatcom Superior Court
In the non-partisan races for judge:
▪ For position 1, Superior Court Judge Robert E. Olson is unopposed and is considered re-elected and won’t be on the ballot.
▪ For position 2, three people are seeking the post being vacated by the court’s Presiding Judge Deborra E. Garrett, who isn’t running for re-election: James Erb, an assistant city attorney for Bellingham; Lisa Keeler, a Bellingham lawyer in private practice; and Evan Jones, a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
▪ For position 3, Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal is unopposed and is considered re-elected and won’t be on the ballot.
▪ For position 4, Superior Court Judge David E. Freeman is facing challengers Carl Munson, a Bellingham lawyer and pro tem judge for Bellingham Municipal Court, and Jim Nelson.
Public Utility District 1 commissioner
Incumbent Jeffrey McClure, a principal in the Bellingham firm RMC Architects, will face Christine Grant in a nonpartisan race. Grant works at Western Washington University’s Institute for Energy Studies and is a consultant on issues related to energy and resource conservation. They both advance to the November general election because they were the only two candidates in a non-partisan race.
Information about judges races and Public Utility District ballot was corrected May 19, 2020.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 6:11 PM.
