INTEGRITY MATTERS. FACTS MATTER. ELECTIONS MATTER.
REGISTER TO VOTE
Register to vote, check, or change your registration information at VoteWA.gov.
GET YOUR BALLOT
Ballots are mailed 3 weeks before Election Day. If you haven't received yours call 360-778-5100 or email auditor@co.whatcom.wa.us. You can also vote in person at the Auditor's office.
2024 Endorsements
President/Vice President Kamala Harris/Tim Walz
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell www.cantwell.com
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen
Governor Bob Ferguson bobferguson.com
Lt. Governor Denny Heck
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
State Auditor Pat (Patricia) McCarthy
State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti electmikep.com
Attorney General Nick Brown
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove
Supt. of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal chrisreykdal.org
Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer pattykuderer.com
State Senator LD 40 Elizabeth (Liz) Lovelett lizlovelett.org
State Rep. Pos. 1, LD 40 Debra Lekanoff debralekanoff.com
State Rep. Pos. 2, LD 40 Alex Ramel alexramel.com
State Rep. Pos. 1, LD 42 Alicia Rule
State Rep. Pos. 2, LD 42 Joe Timmons votejoetimmons.com
Supreme Court Justice Pos. 2 Sal Mungia
Supreme Court Justice Pos. 9 Sheryl Gordon McCloud justicesherylmccloud.org/
Court of Appeals Judge Pos. 1 Cecily Hazelrigg cecilyforcoa.com/
PUD Commissioner Dist. 1 Eddy Ury
PUD Commissioner Dist. 2 Atul Deshmane voteatul.com
County Charter Review Dist. 1 Vote for all three: Andrew Reding, Liz Darrow, Joel Pitts-Jordan
County Charter Review Dist. 2 Vote for all three: Eamonn Collins, Colton Kaltenfeldt, Maya Morales
County Charter Review Dist. 3 Vote for all three: Jennifer Wright, Kelly Krieger, Jessica Rienstra
County Charter Review Dist. 4 No one requested endorsement in this heavily Republican district
County Charter Review Dist. 5 Vote for all three: Teresa Taylor, Andrew Hansen, Charlene Waters
Vote NO on Initiative 2066
Vote NO on Initiative 2109
Vote NO on Initiative 2117
Vote NO on Initiative 2124
Vote NO on Whatcom County Initiative 2024-01 (which would repeal Healthy Children’s Fund)
Vote YES on Whatcom County Proposition 2024-22 (County Charter Amendment expanding Conflict-of-Interest section)
2023 Endorsements
Whatcom County Sheriff: Donnell (Tank) Tanksley
Whatcom County Executive: Satpal Sidhu
Whatcom County Council At-Large: Jon Scanlon
Whatcom County Council Dist. 5 (Coastal): Jackie Dexter
Belligam City Council At-Large: Jace Cotton
Meridian School District Pos. 5: J. Riley Sweeney
Sedro Wooley School District Pos 3: Hannah Oliver
Vote YES to:
Bellingham Initiative 2023-1 Raise Minimum Wage
Bellingham Initiative 2023-2 Protect Renters
Bellingham Greenways Levy 5
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2022 Endorsements
US Senate: Patty Murray
US Congress: Rick Larsen
40th LD State Rep Pos 1: Debra Lekanoff
40th LD State Rep Pos 2: Alex Ramel
42nd L.D. State Senator: Sharon Shewmake
42nd LD State Rep Pos 1: Alicia Rule
42nd LD State Rep Pos 2: Joe Timmons
Public Utility District No. 1 Commissioner District 3: Jaime Arnett
Whatcom County Proposition No. 2022-045 - Healthy Children's Fund
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2021 Candidate Endorsements
Whatcom County Council District At-Large: Barry Buchanan ElectBarry.com
Whatcom County Council District 1: Eddy Ury – Eddy4What.com
Whatcom County Council District 2: Todd Donovan DonovanForWhatcom.org
Whatcom County Council District 3: Rebecca Lewis LewisForWhatcom3.com
Port of Bellingham District 1: Michael Shepard Shepard4Port.com
Port of Bellingham District 2: Kelly Krieger Kelly4Port.com
City of Bellingham Ward 2: Hollie Huthman
City of Bellingham Ward 4: Edwin “Skip” Williams PeopleToElectSkipWilliams.com
City of Bellingham Ward 6: No candidate received 60% support and thus there is no endorsement. Please view here for more information.
City of Bellingham At-Large: Kristina Michele Martens ElectKristina.com
Ferndale City Council Position 6: Kate Bishop KateForFerndale.com
Bellingham School Board Position 4: Jenn Mason VoteJennMason.com
Ballot Box Locations
Use a ballot box to ensure your ballot is counted. Ballots are collected by the Auditor's staff daily, and there is no delay and no risk of the ballot not getting postmarked on Election Day.
Bellingham
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Whatcom Courthouse South Parking Lot,
247 Grand Ave.
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Regal Barkley Village Parking Lot
3005 Cinema Pl.
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Sehome Haggen
210 36th St., NE Corner of Parking Lot
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Whatcom Community College
620 W Kellogg Rd.
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WWU, Red Square
Outside Bond Hall
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WWU, Student Engagement Hub (Nov. General Election Day Only)
516 High St.
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WWU, outside Wade King Student Recreation Center
1880 Bill McDonald Pkwy.
Acme Elementary
5200 Turkington Rd.
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Blaine Library
610 3rd St.
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Birch Bay
(North Whatcom Fire & Rescue)
4581 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd.
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Custer Elementary
7660 Custer School Rd.
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Deming Library
5044 Mt. Baker Hwy.
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Everson WECU
106 E Main St.
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Ferndale City Hall
2095 Main St.
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Lummi Nation Admin Building
2665 Kwina Rd.
Lynden Library
216 4th St.
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Meridian (Laurel Grange)
6172 Guide Meridian
Kendall
(North Fork Community Library)
7506 Kendall Rd.
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Point Roberts Marketplace
480 Tyee Dr.
(Located inside, contact the store for hours)
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Sumas
534 Railroad Ave.
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Sudden Valley
Security Turnaround, Gate One
Running for Office
The Whatcom Democrats’ Candidates Committee works year-round recruiting and talking to prospective candidates. If you are considering running for office, your first stop should be talking to us. We can help you understand the process and requirements and help you decide if you are committed to do the work necessary to be elected, such as fundraising calls and door-belling.
When the committee explains the efforts needed, some prospective candidates decide they are not prepared to run at this time. One of the biggest challenges for the committee is convincing people that getting elected is possible, that they can grow into the public role, and that the party will provide support.
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Official candidate filing is done during a one-week period in May of each year. Contact the County Auditor for specific information.
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Party Endorsement
A special meeting of the membership of the Whatcom County Democratic Central Committee will be held prior to Primary Elections to give candidates an opportunity to present their case for endorsement. Candidates who wish to be considered for Endorsement must request this at least 72 hours in advance of this meeting. Members in good standing vote on endorsements.
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Party Certification
Democratic candidates may be able to access party resources prior to endorsement if they request and receive Certification as a Democrat. Click on the Certification and Endorsement Process for details.
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Certification & Endorsement Process
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Difference Between Party Endorsement And Party Nomination
A political party endorsement is a statement of support of a candidate for public office. It is also an internal policy decision saying where the organization’s resources will be spent. It is no different than a PTA, voter’s league, or labor union picking which candidates they want to support and work for. This is why we require membership in the Whatcom Democrats in order to vote on our endorsement decisions.
A party endorsement has no direct effect on which candidates may run for office. Endorsement does not decide which candidates qualify for the general election ballot, the way a party nomination normally would.
State election law governs the rules of the Primary Election, and currently, in Washington State, primary elections are run like non-partisan primaries, advancing the top two vote-getters to the General Election ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Primaries (in WA State) for partisan offices do not constitute a party nomination process.
Only voters casting a ballot in a Primary Election have the power to eliminate, or advance, a candidate to the general election ballot.
Since we do not hold public nominating primary elections in Washington at this time, the Washington State Democratic Party has adopted its own process and rules to designate who is the nominee of the “Democratic Party” in partisan races in Washington. These rules have no direct impact on the endorsement policy of the Whatcom Democrats.