Whatcom Thursday vote count shows who’s likely on the November ballot
A third round of primary election results released Thursday, Aug. 6, by the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office and the Washington Secretary of State’s Office show the candidates who’ll likely appear on the November general election ballot.
In Whatcom County’s two contested judicial races, Evan Jones and James Erb will make the November ballot for Superior Court judge position 2 and Judge David Freeman will face challenger 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 38% of the vote to 34% for Erb, an assistant city attorney for Bellingham. Lisa Keeler, a Bellingham lawyer in private practice, finished in third place with 27%.
▪ Freeman had 60% of the vote to 21% for Nelson, a Bellingham lawyer with experience in criminal prosecution and defense and family law. Carl Munson, a Bellingham lawyer and pro tem judge for Bellingham Municipal Court, was third with 19%.
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 the top finishers among seven candidates in the 1st Congressional District race.
DelBene had 55% of the vote and Beeler had 33%.
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 Oak Harbor, were leading a field of eight candidates for the 2nd Congressional District.
But the second- and third-place candidates remained close after Thursday’s ballot update.
Larsen had 50% of the vote, Hazelo had 14.5%, and Call had 13.7% in the latest count. Hazelo and Call were separated by about 1,400 votes.
That district covers Bellingham and southwest Whatcom County, plus Island and San Juan counties and western Skagit and Snohomish counties.
Results appear final
A total of 89,254 ballots had been counted through Aug. 6, with an estimated 1,155 more to count, according to the website.
Another count was expected Friday afternoon, Aug. 7, but with so few votes left to count, the primary results appear final. Results will be certified Aug. 18.
A record 150,509 of Whatcom County’s 221,650 residents were registered to vote through Aug. 4, the Auditor’s Office said at its website.
Turnout was 59%, compared to 39% turnout for the 2019 primary and 45% turnout in the 2018 primary.
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 96% of the vote. and write-in candidates had 4%.
▪ Incumbent position 2 state Rep. Alex Ramel, a Democrat from Bellingham, was leading Russ Dzialo, a Republican from Bellingham, by 71% to 29%.
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, by 72% to 28%.
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 52% to 48%.
▪ 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% to 49%.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:47 PM.
