Whatcom County, Washington

Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney

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

About this race

Ryan Swinburnson and Jesse Corkern meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list.

What this office does

District attorney or prosecutor. The district attorney is the chief prosecutor for the county or judicial district. The office decides which criminal charges to file, negotiates pleas, tries cases and, in many states, advises county government or handles child support and juvenile matters. The office sets local charging and diversion policies within state law.

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Washington › Whatcom County › Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney

Ryan Swinburnson

States No Party Preference

Top priorities

From other published sources

Restoring experienced leadership to the Prosecutor's Office, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Strengthening coordination with law enforcement, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Supporting victims of crime, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Swinburnson has more than 26 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney and has served on the Blaine School Board since 2024, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. Swinburnson is a graduate of Central Washington University and Willamette University College of Law, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jesse Corkern

Democratic

Top priorities

From other published sources

Consistent charging standards and attorney specialization, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Improved training and high standards for attorneys, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Zero-tolerance policies for gun violence, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Corkern is a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Whatcom County and currently serves as the County's civil litigator, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. Corkern holds a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law and a B.A. from Portland State University, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotWhatcom County District Court, Judge Position 1

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ryan Swinburnson and Jesse Corkern. Candidate information follows official Whatcom County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney 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

Whatcom County District Court, Judge Position 2 Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4 Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5 See all 11 Whatcom County races

Candidate profiles

Ryan Swinburnson, full profile Jesse Corkern, full profile Official Washington election office