U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal addresses supporters at a Washington State Democrats election night watch party Tuesday. (Photo: Washington State Democratic Party)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Washington voters delivered a mix of results in Tuesday’s general election, with Democrats leading several contested county races in Whatcom and Skagit counties while voters also weighed in on port and utility commissioners, city propositions and local tax measures.
Updated statewide results released Wednesday, Nov. 4, showed voters opposing two statewide initiatives and supporting a third. Local results also showed strong leads in several county offices, including the Whatcom County prosecuting attorney race and multiple Skagit County contests.
“The results reported on election night are just the beginning,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “Over the following weeks, election officials will continue counting ballots and completing important checks to ensure the results are accurate. Every step of this process is designed to ensure that the final results reflect the will of Washington voters.”
Under Washington state law, county election offices must certify their local election results by Nov. 24. After counties complete certification, the Washington Secretary of State will certify results for statewide and federal races by Dec. 3.
Statewide initiatives
Wednesday’s statewide results, last updated at 5:42 p.m., showed voters rejecting two of the three initiatives on the November ballot.
Initiative Measure No. IP26-645, which would repeal the state’s 9.9% tax on annual individual income exceeding $1 million and prohibit individual income taxes, received 42.04% support, or 929,648 votes. Opponents received 57.96%, or 1,281,689 votes.
Initiative Measure No. IL26-001, concerning parental rights relating to children in public schools, also trailed. The measure received 47.35% support, or 1,020,258 votes. Opponents received 52.65%, or 1,134,272 votes.
Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, concerning participation in K-12 school athletics, led statewide. Supporters received 56.56%, or 1,244,375 votes, while opponents received 43.44%, or 955,877 votes.
Whatcom County election results
Whatcom County reported 106,374 ballots cast among 170,523 registered voters in the updated results, representing approximately 62% turnout.
In the county prosecuting attorney race, Jesse Corkern led Ryan Swinburnson with 58.03% of the vote. Corkern received 59,602 votes, compared with 42,956 votes for Swinburnson, who ran without a party preference.
Both Whatcom County District Court judicial candidates ran unopposed.
Angela Anderson received 98.45%, or 71,168 votes, for Position 1. Write-in candidates received 1.55%.
Jonathan Rands received 98.56%, or 70,636 votes, for Position 2. Write-in candidates received 1.44%.
Port of Bellingham and PUD
Whatcom County voters also elected two new Port of Bellingham commissioners following the expansion of the commission from three to five members.
In the District 4 race, Tor Benson led Paul Burrill with 59.34% in the initial election-night results.
Chris Elder led Shawn Ensley in the District 5 contest with 62.27% in the initial count.
The countywide election fills the two newly created commission seats. The Port of Bellingham scheduled certification for Nov. 24, with the new commissioners taking office after certification and being sworn in.
In the Public Utility District No. 1 commissioner race for District 1, incumbent Eddy Ury led challenger Frank Imhof with 70.73% in the initial results.
Bellingham ballot measures
Bellingham voters supported all three city ballot measures in the initial returns.
Proposition 2026-06, authorizing the city’s Salary Commission to set the mayor’s salary, received 86.25% support.
Proposition 2026-07, which would streamline the city’s contract review process by allowing electronic signatures, received 80.70% support.
Initiative 26-01, which would prohibit algorithmic price-fixing in the rental market, received 86.88% support. The initial count showed 29,805 yes votes and 4,500 no votes.
Lynden and Fire Protection District 1
Lynden Proposition 2026-05, a levy lid lift intended to support public safety and essential community services, faced opposition in the initial results. About 64.04% voted no.
Fire Protection District 1 Proposition 2026-08, a regular property tax levy lid lift, also trailed in the initial count. The measure received 48.41% support, compared with 51.59% opposition.
Skagit County election results
Skagit County reported 35,984 ballots cast among 92,274 registered voters in the updated results, representing approximately 39% turnout.
Jeremy Harrison-Smith led Mark Hulst in the county auditor race with 55.63% of the vote. Harrison-Smith received 19,151 votes, while Hulst received 15,221.
Melissa Beaton led the county clerk race with 67.08%, or 22,690 votes. Amanda Toscano received 32.70%, or 11,059 votes.
In the county commissioner race for District 3, Joe Burns led incumbent Keith L. Wagoner with 59.54% of the vote. Burns received 20,954 votes, compared with 14,197 for Wagoner. All Skagit County voters could vote in the District 3 contest.
Alex Lathum led the county coroner race with 63.55%, or 22,017 votes. Derrill Fussell received 36.38%, or 12,605 votes.
County Prosecuting Attorney Erik Pedersen ran unopposed. He received 97.15% of the vote, totaling 23,854 votes. Write-in candidates received 700 votes, or 2.85%.
In the sheriff’s race, Chris Baldwin led Cody Hart with 73.99%, or 25,664 votes. Hart received 25.86%, or 8,970 votes.
Jackie Brunson led the county treasurer race with 64.70%, or 22,563 votes. Timothy Garrison received 35.24%, or 12,287 votes.
District Court
All three Skagit County District Court judicial candidates ran unopposed.
Patrick Eason received 98.70%, or 22,358 votes, for Position 1. Write-in candidates received 1.30%.
Paul W. Nielsen received 98.78%, or 21,822 votes, for Position 2. Write-in candidates received 1.22%.
Jenifer Howson received 98.60%, or 22,459 votes, for Position 3. Write-in candidates received 1.40%.
Local measures
Initial election-night results showed strong support for several local public-service measures in Skagit County.
La Conner School District’s educational facilities modernization and technology levy received 73.15% support in the initial count.
Mount Vernon voters supported renewing a sales tax for transportation improvements, with 76.25% voting yes.
Sedro-Woolley voters favored joining the Central Skagit Rural Partial-County Library District, with 76.94% support.
A property tax levy for Fire District 5 received 71.33% support in the initial results.
Results remain unofficial
Washington counties continue processing ballots and updating results following Election Day. The statewide results page listed its next scheduled update for Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m.
Voters whose ballots have missing or mismatched signatures have until their county’s Nov. 24 certification deadline to resolve the issue.
Results posted before certification remain unofficial and may change as additional ballots are counted.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
