Whatcom County, Washington

Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5

Elder and Ensley are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Whatcom County election filings.

About this race

Chris Elder and Shawn Ensley meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list. Only voters inside this district vote on the seat.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Washington › Whatcom County › Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5

Chris Elder

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From other published sources

Trade, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Strategic airport opportunities, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Defending working waterfronts, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Elder has worked with counties for over twelve years on farmland preservation, climate resilience, forest and watershed management, and owns the consulting firm Rivershed SPC, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. Elder holds a BA in Environmental Biology from Western Colorado University and an MS in Agriculture from Washington State University, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Shawn Ensley

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From other published sources

Creating living wage jobs, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Investing in projects with clear purpose, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Keeping the Port focused on its mission, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Ensley has worked at Cherry Point in instrumentation and electrical maintenance since 2004 and spent 21 years in the Air Force Reserve in airport logistics, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. Ensley holds an AAS in Instrumentation and Control from Bellingham Technical College and served on its Instrumentation Advisory Board, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotWhatcom County PUD No. 1 Commissioner, District 1

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Chris Elder and Shawn Ensley. Candidate information follows official Whatcom County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5 election in Washington?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Washington are on the Washington election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Whatcom County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Whatcom County and state election office filings, last verified October 26, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Whatcom County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Whatcom County ballot

11 tracked races in Whatcom County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Washington House Position 1, Legislative District 40 Washington House Position 2, Legislative District 40 Washington Senate, Legislative District 42 See all 11 Whatcom County races

Candidate profiles

Chris Elder, full profile Shawn Ensley, full profile Official Washington election office