Head of Whatcom County GOP challenges three-term state House member in 42nd
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2026 Primary Election Coverage
A collection of articles introducing candidates for Whatcom County’s Aug. 4 primary election.
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Head of Whatcom County GOP challenges three-term state House member in 42nd
Sheriff’s detective challenges two-term House member in Whatcom County 42nd
State Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, is seeking a fourth straight two-year term for the 42nd Legislative District House Position 1, one of two House seats in the 42nd District. The 42nd District includes the northern neighborhoods of Bellingham and the northern part of Whatcom County.
Voters in the 42nd District elected three Democrats to the Legislature in 2022, taking control of a district that had been represented by Republicans for more than a decade.
Ballots were mailed to all registered voters on July 15 and must be postmarked — not just mailed — by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, or returned to a special drop box by that time. Voters can check the status of their ballot at votewa.gov. Drop box locations, candidate statements and other election information is at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office website.
According to the state’s “top two” primary rules, the two candidates with the most votes in the Aug. 4 primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, regardless of party affiliation. Since there are only two people running in this race, both likely will advance. Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the ballot.
Alicia Rule
State Rep. Alicia Rule has served in the state House since 2020, is a social worker and a therapist in private practice. She’s also a former member of the Blaine City Council and founder and former head of the Blaine Downtown Development Association. Her family has lived in Whatcom County for five generations, and she has been instrumental in getting state flood relief for residents affected by the 2021 and 2025 Nooksack River floods.
In the Legislature, Rule is vice chair of the Health Care & Wellness Committee and a member of the joint Washington Economic Development Finance Authority, the joint School Safety Summit and the joint Work Group to Address Needs of Students in Foster Care, Homelessness and Juvenile Rehab. She also serves on the House Education and Capital Budget committees.
“As a working mom of three boys, I know it’s hard to make ends meet. I worked to cut taxes for small businesses and voted no on tax increases, because these costs just get passed on to the consumer. I passed laws to cap rent increases and changed zoning laws to build more housing that our community needs,” Rule said in her candidate statement. “I’m 100% pro-choice and introduced the bill to protect access to IVF. I passed laws to stop ICE agents from hiding behind masks, prevent the state from sending your private data to DC, and replace funding for Planned Parenthood cut by Trump.”
Rule is endorsed by the Whatcom Democrats and by a range of elected officials in Whatcom County, according to her campaign website. She is also supported by the AFSCME Council 28, Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs, Washington Fraternal Order of Police, National Women’s Political Caucus, Washington State Nurses Association and is a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.
According to the state Public Disclosure Commission, Rule raised $134,136 for her campaign through July 14. About $18,000 came from individual contributions and $27,000 from political-action committees.
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Misty Flowers
Misty Flowers, a musician, anti-vaccine activist and head of the Whatcom County Republican Party, filed to run for the office just two hours before the week-long registration window closed when no other candidates had come forward to challenge Rule.
Flowers ran unsuccessfully for the Whatcom County Council in 2021 and lost a bid for Whatcom County executive in 2023, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting. She attended the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Whatcom Community College and Shasta Community College.
Washington’s budget “remains bloated and unaccountable,” Flowers said at her campaign website.
“It is time to restrain Olympia’s spending, so you don’t have to choose between buying food or fuel. I am deeply committed to leadership that protects your pocketbook, your property and your progeny. I will prioritize public safety, restoring roadways, increasing job opportunities, stabilizing housing, and lowering the tax burden for struggling Washingtonians,” Flowers said in her candidate statement.
In addition to the Whatcom Republicans, she is endorsed by former Whatcom County undersheriff Doug Chadwick, former Port Commissioner Ken Bell, Lynden City Council member Gary Bode and Ferndale City Council Jon Mutchler.
According to the state Public Disclosure Commission, Flowers raised $14,573 for her campaign through July 14. About half that money came from the state party caucus, the PDC said.
