The week from Monday, May 16th to Friday, May 20th, is the time this year for candidates to file for political offices scheduled to appear on the November 2022 General Election ballots in Whatcom County.
Candidates are encouraged to file their Declaration of Candidacy online. Online filing begins at 9am on Monday, May 16th, and closes at 4pm on Friday, May 20th.
Candidates running for re-election or for the first time are encouraged to review the Candidate Filing Guide. The guide contains information candidates need to know and requirements and regulations that can change from year to year.
In-person filing opens May 16th at 8:30am and ends May 20th at 4:30pm. Candidates will be directed to a computer set up in our office.
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Click for more informationA candidate may mail their Declaration of Candidacy form accompanied by the filing fee to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, Election Division, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225. Filings will be received by mail beginning May 2nd but will not be processed until the official filing week.
The deadline for filings being received is 4:30pm on May 20th. Any filing received before May 2nd or after the deadline will be rejected and returned to the candidate.
The following offices are open for election this year. Incumbents listed may or may not choose to run for reelection.
District Office Term Incumbent Filing Fee Statewide US Senator 6-year regular term, partisan Patty Murray $1,740.00 Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom Counties – Congressional District 2 US Representative 2-year regular term, partisan Rick Larsen $1,740.00 Statewide Secretary of State 2-year unexpired term, partisan Steve Hobbs $1,346.40 San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom Counties – District 40 State Representative Pos. 1 2-year regular term, partisan Debra Lekanoff $568.81 San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom Counties – District 40 State Representative Pos. 2 2-year regular term, partisan Alex Ramel $568.81 Whatcom County – District 42 State Senator 4-year short & full term, partisan Simon Sefzik $568.81 Whatcom County – District 42 State Representative Pos. 1 2-year regular term, partisan Alicia Rule $568.81 Whatcom County – District 42 State Representative Pos. 2 2-year regular term, partisan Sharon Shewmake $568.81 State Supreme Court Justice Position 1 6-year regular term, nonpartisan Mary I. Yu $2,203.20 State Supreme Court Justice Position 5 6-year regular term, nonpartisan Barbara Madsen $2,203.20 State Supreme Court Justice Position 6 6-year regular term, nonpartisan G. Helen Whitener $2,203.20 Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney 4-year regular term, nonpartisan Eric Richey $1,996.75 Whatcom County District Court Judge Position 1 4-year short & full term, nonpartisan Angela Anderson $1,901.20 Whatcom County District Court Judge Position 2 4-year regular term, nonpartisan Matthew Elich $1,901.20 Whatcom Public Utility District #1 Commissioner Dist. 5 6-year regular term, nonpartisan Mike Murphy $308.04
According to Washington State law, “The name of a candidate for an office shall not appear on a ballot for that office unless … the candidate is, at the time the candidate’s declaration of candidacy is filed, properly registered to vote in the geographic area represented by the office.” Each office may include additional eligibility requirements for candidates.
For additional information, contact County Auditor Diana Bradrick at (360) 778-5105.