Port of Bellingham commissioner Michael Shepard announces run for state senate

This article was first published by Cascadia Daily News. 

A local Democratic elected official will run for state office after Washington Sen. Sharon Shewmake announced she would not be seeking another term in Olympia.

Michael Shepard, a three-term Port of Bellingham commissioner, announced on Monday that he would be running in 2026 for the 42nd Legislative District Senate seat.

Shewmake is a Western Washington University economics professor who served two terms as state representative before winning the senate seat in 2022. She said on Dec. 1 that she will continue to serve through the end of her term in January 2027 before stepping down to focus on her family.

Shepard is also an educator — he teaches anthropology at Western and has worked at Northwest Indian College and Whatcom Community College in the past. This year, he ran unopposed to retain his port seat.

While port commissioner is a nonpartisan position, Shepard is running for the state office as a Democrat and has served in the past as a Whatcom County Democratic Party Precinct Committee Officer.

WA state Sen. Sharon Shewmake not running for reelection next year

Shepard said in his announcement he’s running to address the high cost of living, continue investments in public schools and local jobs, promote affordable housing and protect the environment.

Another Democrat who said she was considering a run has bowed out. State Rep. Alicia Rule announced on social media on Dec. 7 that, after discussing the possibility with her family and friends, she decided to continue working as a state representative.

Rule told the Cascadia Daily News that she loves serving as vice chair of the Health Care & Wellness Committee and participating on the Education and Capital Budget committees.

“With much work ahead in these areas, I would like to just keep going with it,” Rule said.

On the Republican side, no candidates have officially stepped up to run, but Simon Sefzik, who was appointed in 2022 to fill the seat of Sen. Doug Ericksen, said in an email on Dec. 1 that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility.