About this Event
Cascadia Daily News’ Reader-Powered Election Town Hall isn’t just a place to meet the people running for these offices.
It’s a place to tell them what your priorities are and learn what they would do to make change happen. It’s a conversation where you hear candidates in Whatcom County’s most pressing contests as people, outside a traditional debate format, framed around issues that affect your daily life.
To start, we’ll cover the historically competitive 42nd District Senate race, where Erika Creydt (R) and Michael Shepard (D) face off with dueling ideas about the state budget and the “millionaire’s tax,” all while pitching to keep affordability top of mind for Northwest Washington.
Then, we will turn to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, which has been experiencing an ongoing turnover crisis. Since 2019, nearly 70% of staff have left, according to a Cascadia Daily News investigation. It’s impacting how cases are handled and how victims and defendants are served, a challenge that either Jesse Corkern (D) or Ryan Swinburnson (NP) will have to take on.
Reader-Powered Election Town Hall 2026 – Presented by Cascadia Daily News
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 5:30 PM–7:30 PM
Sehome High School Theater
Free to attend - RSVP is required
$10 donation add-on suggested
Join us for a live discussion on the matchups for the 42nd District Senate and the Whatcom County Prosecutor. CDN has invited all remaining candidates in those races to join the conversation. Audience Q&A to follow.
Free parking; ADA-accessible parking is available.
No pets allowed; service animals are permitted. No food is allowed inside the theater.
Security is provided.
Event venue & nearby stays
Sehome High School, 2700 Bill McDonald Parkway, Bellingham, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.