A race for an open state Senate seat in Whatcom County has moved into a manual recount after the Democratic primary concluded with a four-vote margin between the top two candidates.
Why It Matters
The outcome of this contest will determine which Democrat faces Republican Erika Creydt in the November general election for the 42nd Legislative District. The seat was vacated by Sen. Sharon Shewmake, who chose not to seek reelection, leaving a four-year term up for grabs in a district that covers north Bellingham and rural areas including Ferndale, Lynden, and Blaine.
What Happened
Michael Shepard holds a narrow lead over Eamonn Collins following the initial tabulation of ballots. Shepard received 13,125 votes to Collins’ 13,121. Because the margin falls below the statutory threshold for a recount, election officials have scheduled a hand recount for next week. The process is expected to take approximately three days to complete.
The race saw significant activity on Monday as county officials reviewed challenged ballots and allowed voters until 4:30 p.m. to cure signature issues. During that window, 125 additional votes were tallied. Earlier in the counting process, Shepard held a 20-vote lead, while Collins was within two votes at another point. The county canvassing board is set to certify the final results on Tuesday, with the state secretary of state expected to certify the outcome by Friday.
“For me, this is uncharted territory,” Shepard told the Washington State Standard Monday evening. He later emphasized the weight of individual participation in tight races, telling reporters, “If anyone ever tells you your vote doesn’t matter, think differently because we know it does.”
By the Numbers
4 votes – Margin separating Shepard and Collins
13,125 – Votes received by Michael Shepard
13,121 – Votes received by Eamonn Collins
Nearly 50,000 – Total votes counted in the district
125 – Additional votes tallied on Monday
20 – Shepard’s lead going into Monday’s tally
150 votes (0.25%) – Threshold for a manual recount
0.5% (2,000 votes) – Threshold for a machine recount
44.6% – Share of primary vote received by Erika Creydt
Nearly 53% – Combined vote share for Democratic candidates
$199,000 – Amount raised by Erika Creydt
$105,000 – Amount raised by Michael Shepard
$75,000 – Amount raised by Eamonn Collins
Candidate Profiles
Michael Shepard serves as a Bellingham port commissioner and teaches anthropology at Western Washington University. His opponent in the primary, Eamonn Collins, works as a science teacher at Lummi Nation School and previously served as a U.S. Senate policy adviser. The Republican nominee for the general election is Erika Creydt, a psychologist and member of the Blaine school board.
Zoom Out
The tight primary reflects broader competitive dynamics in Washington state politics, where down-ballot races often hinge on small margins. With nearly 50,000 votes cast in the district, the four-vote separation represents a fraction of a percent of total participation. The fundraising totals highlight the resource disparities that can exist even in closely contested local elections, with Creydt outpacing both Democratic finalists in campaign contributions.
What’s Next
Election officials will conduct the hand recount starting next week. Once the recount is complete and results are certified by the county and state, the general election matchup will be finalized. The winner of the November contest will serve a four-year term in the Washington State Senate.