This election reporting is provided free to all readers as a public service by your locally owned Cascadia Daily News. Thanks for supporting truly local news by donating to CDN or subscribing here.

Welcome to the online version of the 2024 Cascadia Daily News Voter Guide to the Nov. 5 general election.

Since its birth in January 2022, Bellingham-based CDN, Northwest Washington’s leading independent news source, has put local election coverage at the top of its agenda. This comes in two forms: election stories reported and captured visually by our news staff, and opinion pieces contributed by the executive editor, a broad array of guest columnists, and you, our readers, via a constant flow of engaging letters to the editor.

CDN greatly appreciates the robust public participation. Our news and opinion coverage converges via CDN’s award-winning Citizens Agenda project, which seeks to provide “reader-powered” election coverage by letting voters themselves guide discussion topics.

We’re pleased to make much of this information available as a public service in a single package, the Voter Guide, to provide useful information for important voting choices on public offices and other measures. View the digital version of the printed guide in our e-edition.

CDN was honored to receive first place, for the second year in a row, in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s Community Service awards for its 2023 Citizens Agenda project.

Thanks for reading and supporting your independent local news source. Stay connected with our social media feeds and website for continuing election news coverage up to, and beyond, Election Day Nov. 5. All of our election coverage is provided free and outside our paywall as a public service by CDN.

Support your locally owned independent newspaper by subscribing or donating here.

—Ron Judd, executive editor; ronjudd@cascadiadaily.com

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CDN endorses

CDN’s editorial endorsements are in keeping with a long tradition of independent news sources weighing in on important local election choices. Read about the guiding principles of our endorsement process here.

• Reelect Liz Lovelett for 40th District State Senate
• Reelect Alicia Rule for 42nd District House, Position 1
• Reelect Joe Timmons to 42nd District House, Position 2
• Return Rick Larsen to Congress in 2nd District
• Bob Ferguson for Washington Governor
• No on initiatives repealing Climate Act, capital gains tax, WA Cares; yes on natural gas access

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Candidates answer Citizens Agenda top questions

Watch videos of candidate interviews with the CDN editorial board here.

Federal/State Questions

Read candidate answers:

• U.S Congressional District Two (Cody Hart vs. Rick Larsen)
• Washington Governor (Dave Reichert vs. Bob Ferguson)

Question #1 (Abortion)

Should a woman have access to abortions, and what about in the case of life- and health-threatening pregnancies?

Question #2 (U.S. Supreme Court)

Are current U.S. Supreme Court tenures too long and restrictions on conflicts of interest too lax? 

Question #3 (Presidential powers)

Do you think the president should be above the law? And does the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively make that the case?

Question #4 (Project 2025)

Do you support Project 2025? If not, how will you protect citizens against its ideology? 

Question #5 (Health care)

Do you believe our current options for health care in Whatcom County are adequate? What more can be done to make that happen? 

Local Questions

Read candidate answers:

• 40th District State Senate (Liz Lovelett vs. Charles Carrell)
• 42nd District State House Position One (Raymond Pelletti vs. Alicia Rule)
• 42nd District State House Position Two (Joe Timmons vs. Kamal Bhachu)

Question #6 (Community-based services)

What will you do about our housing crisis, not just the lack of stock but lack of average and middle-class affordability, and predatory investors and landlords? 

Question #7 (School funding)

What will you do to bring fair and equitable funding to all public school districts in Washington? (Is the state’s “adjustment factor” working?) 

Question #8 (Infrastructure)

Do you think the current state infrastructure (utilities, transportation, parks, etc.) is up to the standards that taxpayers expect? If not what specific things would you do to change that? 

Question #9 (Climate Commitment Act)

What is your stance on state Initiative 2117, which would repeal Washington’s Climate Commitment Act? 

Question #10 (PeaceHealth)

For legislators and the state attorney general: What can you do to ensure PeaceHealth and other hospital groups in the state provide price transparency, and screen patients for financial assistance eligibility?

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Candidates weigh in

Read about what candidates think of Washington’s infrastructure, access to abortion and fixing the state’s under-funded public school system.

• Access to abortion services a priority for Democrat candidates
• What can be done to fix Washington’s under-funded public school system?

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Other election coverage

• State Senate District 40 race is rematch of 2020
• District 39 House races feature four GOP candidates
• Social issues separate candidates in District 42 House race
• Political newcomer and a two-term incumbent face off for District 39 Senate seat
• Candidates across political spectrum run for two Skagit County Commissioner seats
• Public lands commissioner candidates differ on forest management
• Blaine School District asks voters again to approve $70M bond
• Meridian School District seeks $75M bond to rebuild middle school 
• Incumbent Larsen faces off against MAGA Republican Cody Hart
• Law enforcement candidates head WA governor’s race
• For first time in a decade, 15 citizens will be chosen to review Whatcom County charter
• Proposed Whatcom County charter amendment would prevent electeds from holding two offices
• Two fire districts, one parks district ask for tax increase in November election
• Public Utility District candidates have a vision for services in Whatcom County
• What is Future 42? The group wants to get more citizens involved in civic engagement
• Can moderates be the deciding vote in November’s governor’s election?

Pre-bunking misinformation

This mini-series is a collection of stories “pre-bunking” misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2024 election.

• Did you vote by mail? Experts say it’s safe and secure
• Meet Washington’s robust voter registration system
• Secure election system in Whatcom County open to voters
• Whatcom County Auditor’s office conducts hand count to ensure election integrity
• When it comes to voting, your signature matters
• Law enforcement support of Auditor’s Office vital to secure elections
• In Washington, you can vote from jail — or upon release from prison
• What counts as a vote in elections?