Bellingham voters face record spending in 2026 midterms

Voters in Bellingham, Marysville, and Lake Stevens will head to the polls or check their mail ballots today as Washington conducts its general election. The state has no U.S. Senate or governor races on the ballot this year, but every U.S. House seat is up for grabs, along with state legislative offices and local measures. Washington conducts its elections largely by mail, and polling places that are open will close at 8 p.m. Local time. Residents can verify their polling location at vote.gov, though many will already have received their ballots in the mail. The day marks the midpoint of President Donald Trump’s second term, a moment that determines which party controls Congress for his final two years in office.

Across the country, this is shaping up as the most expensive election in history. According to an analysis of AdImpact data, the total spending figures are unprecedented. At the committee level, Republican groups have outraised and outspent their Democratic counterparts. This financial advantage has been bolstered by contributions from Trump-affiliated organizations and prominent figures like Elon Musk. However, the dynamic shifts when looking at individual candidates, where Democrats have managed to outraise their Republican opponents. This split in fundraising strategies highlights the different approaches each party is taking to secure victory in this critical midterm cycle.

The distribution of advertising dollars reveals a distinct strategy. The Associated Press notes that 88.1 percent of Republican general election television ad spending went to states and districts where Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Within that group, more than $850 million was spent in areas where his margin of victory was 10 points or more. This heavy investment suggests a focus on defending strongholds while attempting to maximize turnout in favorable territories. In contrast, Democrats have focused their resources on battleground districts and states where the margins were tighter, aiming to flip seats and gain a majority in either chamber of Congress.

Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate and 218 in the House, while Democrats hold 45 Senate seats and 214 House seats. To take control of the House, Democrats need a net gain of three districts, a threshold that is considered achievable given the number of open seats. In the Senate, Democrats would need to gain four seats to secure a majority, a more difficult task given the current balance of power. Republicans can afford to lose no more than two Senate seats to maintain their current control. The stakes are high because a loss in either chamber would likely trigger investigations and possible impeachment proceedings, a scenario that both parties are keenly aware of as they campaign.

Local candidates in Whatcom County are part of this broader national financial landscape. In the state’s third congressional district, which covers much of the county, voters are choosing between incumbent Suzan DelBene and a Republican opponent. DelBene, who also serves as the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has been vocal about the national mood. She stated that the American people are angry and want change, a message that resonates with many voters who feel the cost of living has become unmanageable. Her Republican opponent is part of a slate of candidates who are benefiting from the massive party-level spending that has dominated the airwaves.

Public opinion polls indicate that voters are struggling with high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. The Associated Press reports that only 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump’s job performance, with an even lower 25 percent approving of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction, and most blame the president for the current economic conditions. This sentiment is driving the early vote, with more than 57 million people having already cast ballots as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. The high volume of early voting suggests that turnout will be a decisive factor in the final results.

In Washington, the election also features several ballot measures that could impact local governance and taxation. Initiative 1 deals with public education governance, specifically regarding parental rights to review educational materials. Initiative 638 addresses sex and gender issues in school athletics, while Initiative 645 focuses on income taxes, proposing to repeal the tax on household income over $1 million. These measures add another layer of complexity to the ballot for voters in Bellingham and surrounding towns. The outcomes of these local votes could have significant implications for state policy, even as the national narrative dominates the news cycle.

The administration has been active in ensuring the integrity of the election, though critics have raised concerns about potential interference. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting, a move that critics say risks disenfranchising eligible voters. In California, a judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. These legal battles have added a layer of tension to the election day atmosphere, with some voters expressing anxiety about the counting process. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours and staff to ensure that mail ballots are counted on time, a crucial step for a state like Washington that relies heavily on mail voting.

National leaders are keeping a close eye on the results as they come in. Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized the importance of turnout, stating that if Republicans turn out their voters, they will win. This reflects the party’s strategy of mobilizing its base in both safe and competitive districts. Democrats, meanwhile, are described as cautiously optimistic, relying on their strength in suburban areas and among younger voters. The results of this election will set the stage for the remainder of Trump’s term and could influence the trajectories of potential 2028 candidates like Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg.