Here’s who is leading in Whatcom, legislative election races Tuesday night
Early primary results Tuesday, Aug. 4, show that in Whatcom County’s two contested judicial races, Evan Jones was leading James Erb and Lisa Keeler for Superior Court judge position 2 and Judge David Freeman was leading challengers Carl Munson and Jim Nelson for position 4.
Washington uses a “top two” primary system, meaning that the two candidates with the most votes advance to the Nov. 3 general election, regardless of party affiliation.
▪ Jones, a deputy prosecuting attorney in the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, had 39.86% of the vote to 33.37% for Erb, an assistant city attorney for Bellingham; and 26.6% for Keeler, a Bellingham lawyer in private practice.
▪ Freeman had 59.54% of the vote to 21.34% for Nelson, a Bellingham lawyer with experience in criminal prosecution and defense and family law, and 18.77% for Munson, a Bellingham lawyer and pro tem judge for Bellingham Municipal Court.
In Whatcom County’s only other contested primary races, both incumbent House members who represent Whatcom County were leading their challengers.
1st Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Kirkland Democrat, and Jeffrey Beeler Sr. a Republican from Sultan, were leading in the 1st Congressional District race.
DelBene had 47.8% of the vote and Beeler had 40.9%.
That district covers most of Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish counties, plus almost one-third of King County.
2nd Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, an Everett Democrat, and Timothy S. Hazelo, a Republican from of Oak Harbor, were leading in the 2nd Congressional District.
Larsen had 51.5% of the vote and Hazelo had 14.2%.
That district covers Bellingham and southwest Whatcom County, plus Island and San Juan counties and western Skagit and Snohomish counties.
Next results Wednesday
Initial primary results were posted at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office website.
Another count was expected Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5.
A record 150,363 of Whatcom County’s 221,650 residents were registered to vote through Aug. 3, the Auditor’s Office said at its website.
A total of 53,750 ballots had been counted as of Aug. 4, with 14,500 more to count, according to the website.
All statewide offices were on the August primary ballot, from governor to insurance commissioner.
Other local races feature 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.
Two or fewer candidates filed in each of the five open state legislative races, so those candidates automatically advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
40th Legislative District
▪ For position 1, incumbent state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, a Democrat from Bow, is unopposed and had 95.4% of the vote.
▪ Incumbent position 2 state Rep. Alex Ramel, a Democrat from Bellingham, was leading Russ Dzialo, a Republican from Bellingham.
Ramel had 70.4% and Dzialo 29.4%.
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, was leading Charles Carrell, a Republican from Burlington.
She had 71.2% and Carrell 28.7%.
Lovelett is seeking her first full four-year term as state senator. She was appointed in February 2019 to finish the term of Kevin Ranker and won a confirmation election in November 2019.
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.
Van Werven was leading Rule by 53% to 46.8%.
▪ Incumbent position 2 state Rep. Sharon Shewmake, a Democrat from Bellingham, is being challenged by Republican Jennifer Sefzik of Custer.
Sefzik was leading Shewmake by 51.6% to 48.4%.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 3:53 PM.
