2nd Congressional District

Barry Buchanan is running for a fourth term on the Whatcom County Council. Buchanan is a Navy veteran and lifelong community leader who has been a consistent voice for progress on the county council since joining in 2014. Before that, he spent a term on the Bellingham City Council. Buchanan has previously worked in engineering and as a small business entrepreneur in workforce technical training.

On the council, Buchanan has pursued bold action such as preventing the expansion of local fossil fuel infrastructure, finding alternatives to a costly new jail, banning local fracking, and establishing the Healthy Children’s Fund. In this race, he is prioritizing addressing the affordability crisis while ensuring that local government works efficiently and responsively toward local solutions. Some of his goals for another term include developing alternative crisis response options to law enforcement, advocating for social equity and environmental protections, and expanding affordable housing options in the county.

Buchanan’s leadership is guided by his belief in the “right to thrive” for all Whatcom County residents. We recommend Barry Buchanan for another term in the At-Large seat on the Whatcom County Council.

Council Chair Jared Mead is running unopposed for another term in the District 4 seat on the Snohomish County Council. Mead has held a number of public service positions, including four years on the Mill Creek City Council, two years as a state lawmaker in Legislative District 44, and his most recent tenure on the county council, where he has sat since he was appointed in 2020 and retained in the following election by voters. Mead, who was born and raised in south Snohomish County, has also worked as a legislative aide and as a campaign manager.

In his re-election campaign, Mead is focusing on several key issues, including affordability, public safety, and transportation. Mead supports expanding mental health resources and violence prevention programs to enhance public safety services. Regarding affordable housing, Mead acknowledges the need to increase the housing supply. However, we would be interested to see his approach expand to include solutions such as renter and tenant protections.

Mead referred to himself as being more right-leaning than his party, which is evidenced by certain votes and policy proposals he made during his time on the council. Earlier this year, Mead introduced the controversial Amendment 3 to the Critical Areas Regulations bill, which the conservative side of the council helped pass. His amendment faced public backlash for its lack of wildlife protections and for reducing buffers of protection around wetlands.

Additionally, Mead proposed an amendment to the Snohomish County budget that reduced funding for the Office of Social Justice and Executive Office after an audit found the department to be unsustainable in the long term. Fellow county council member Strom Peterson criticized the move, saying the council overstepped its authority.

We hope that Mead adopts more progressive positions on some key issues during his next term on the Snohomish County Council.

Kelli Johnson is challenging Republican incumbent Sam Low for Snohomish County Council from District 5. Johnson is a Democrat with ten years of experience as an Emergency Room nurse.

Johnson's campaign aims to improve housing affordability, expand access to quality health care, and achieve a balanced budget. She supports zoning changes that allow for a variety of affordable homes that also include environmental protections. Throughout her nursing career, Johnson has been a health care advocate, most recently raising awareness of the devastating MAGA Congressional cuts to Medicaid on her Instagram.

Although Kelli Johnson's campaign could afford some more detailed policy proposals, we appreciate her health care advocacy and progressive values. We recommend her to replace Sam Low on the Snohomish County Council from District 5.

Whatcom County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway is running unopposed for a second term serving District 1. She has a diverse background in public service, including previous positions as a community liaison for both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as a legislative assistant in Congress. Galloway serves as a member of the Climate Impact Advisory Committee and previously as a member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

Galloway is running to continue her work advocating for affordable housing, climate justice, community safety, and social inclusion. She is a member of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission and wants to support local policy to ensure that our county is a welcoming place for all. She supports reproductive freedom, climate-friendly infrastructure, workers' rights, criminal justice reform, and incentivizing affordable housing development. Galloway is an environmental leader on the council, including successfully passing an ordinance to protect chinook salmon, supporting the Nooksack water rights adjudication, and building a phosphorus-neutral development code. She has strong community support, including from local tribes, our partner organizations, and progressive elected leaders.

Kaylee Galloway has earned your vote for another term on the Whatcom County Council representing District 1.

Jessica Rienstra is running for Whatcom County Council, District 3. Rienstra ran successfully for the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission in 2024 and currently serves on the commission.

Her current campaign was inspired by the 2021 Nooksack flood, after she spent weeks helping her community recover from the wreckage. Due to this experience, Rienstra is prioritizing connectivity and infrastructure to not only strengthen her community but to promote emergency preparedness. She is also prioritizing diverse perspectives and equitable service. While her campaign website lacks specific policies she would support or implement, she demonstrates progressive priorities and values.

Rienstra has earned impressive early support from local progressive leaders and organizations. Jessica Rienstra is the best choice for Whatcom County Council, District 3.