Election update: Port of Bellingham appears to have a new commissioner
Political newcomer Carly James appears to have ousted two-term Port of Bellingham Commissioner Ken Bell, taking a strong lead after a third round of ballot totals was released Thursday afternoon.
James was ahead of Bell by 51% to 49% after the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office posted the updated count at 4:03 p.m. Thursday.
“I’m deeply honored to have earned the trust of Whatcom County voters, and I’m proud to serve as only the second female Port commissioner in the Port’s 105-year history,” James told The Bellingham Herald in a text message Friday. “This was an incredibly close race, and that’s a testament to my opponent, Ken Bell. I’m grateful for his kindness and professionalism throughout the campaign, and I know he’ll continue to be a mentor and friend as I transition into this new role. I’m excited to get to work on a community-driven vision for Bellingham’s waterfront and to create economic opportunities across our county.”
Bell was ahead by 751 votes when the first ballot count was released after the polls closed Tuesday night. James took a 96-vote lead Wednesday and extended that to 1,439 votes Thursday — 35,623 to 34,184.
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Another ballot total is scheduled for Nov. 14, with an estimated 50 ballots left to count, the Auditor’s Office said online Thursday.
Port of Bellingham District 2 includes the northern part of Bellingham and rural Whatcom County including Lynden, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas.
If James’ lead holds and she is certified as the winner when the Canvassing Board meets Nov. 25, she will be only the second woman to serve on the three-member Port of Bellingham Commission since it was formed in 1920.
Starting next year, the Port Commission will have five members because voters approved a proposition to expand the panel on Tuesday by a vote of 65% to 35%.
James owns three local businesses: Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress, Gold Ink, an accounting service and consulting firm, and Yacht Dogs, a hot dog stand at the waterfront Granary Building. She earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Western Washington University, according to previous Herald reporting.
Ballot totals in Washington, which votes almost entirely by mail, are traditionally released after 8 p.m. election night and around 5 p.m. the next several days afterward. Close races can sometimes take several days to decide as more ballots arrive.
Whatcom County has 169,232 active registered voters, according to the Auditor’s Office, which conducts elections. A total of 75,850 ballots had been counted through the third tabulation. Turnout was 45%, according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM.
