State Senator District 42 in Washington State Senate District 42, Washington

2026 Primary Election

• Michael Alvarez Shepard — Incumbent Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 1 in Bellingham, Washington

  Michael Alvarez Shepard has been a resident of Bellingham for over 25 years and was first sworn into office on January 2, 2018. In addition to his role as commissioner, he is a professor in the Anthropology Department at Western Washington University. He holds two degrees from WWU and a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia. Shepard has served on the boards of the Kulshan Community Land Trust and the Lummi Marine Trades Education Program.

• Eamonn Collins — Science teacher in WA

  Eamonn Collins, a Democratic candidate for Washington State Senate District 42, aims to bring independence and resilience to the region. He is a science teacher at the Lummi Nation School and a former senior policy adviser in the U.S. Senate. Collins also volunteers as vice president of the Kulshan Community Land Trust, demonstrating his commitment to housing affordability. His platform prioritizes tax fairness that supports workers, permanent housing solutions, and a local economy resilient to federal volatility. Collins advocates a "Resilience First" approach, focusing on strengthening local food systems, fiercely protecting reproductive healthcare, and insulating district resources from federal overreach, ensuring a stronger, more independent Washington.

• Ryan Bowman — Candidate for State Senator in WA

  Ryan Bowman, known as Rye Bow, is a candidate for Washington State Senate, representing the 42nd District in the 2026 election. Running with "no party preference," he centers his campaign on the idea of "Renewal through Integration, Support, and Employment — RISE." Bowman aims to address the cycle of division, focusing on real challenges impacting working families, such as aging infrastructure, rising cost of living, and a thoughtful transition to clean energy. His priorities include ensuring dignity for elders, promoting environmental stewardship, advocating for smart growth and community-centered planning, and fostering transparent and accountable governance to ensure community voices are heard.

• Erika Creydt — Incumbent School Board Member in Blaine, WA

  Erika Creydt is a lifelong resident of Blaine and Whatcom County, a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience in youth mental health, and a wife and mother of three. She currently serves as the longest-serving member of the Blaine School Board. Creydt is running for State Senate because she believes her community deserves a senator who listens and fights for its people, bringing common-sense leadership to Olympia. Her campaign focuses on addressing ignored mental health challenges in children, ensuring accountability for public dollars, and confronting systems that fail families. She advocates for responsible stewardship and opposes new taxes and regulations that burden working families.