WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The race for state Senate in Whatcom County is heading to a hand recount.

Michael Shepard leads Eamonn Collins by just four votes in the District 42 race after the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office included all challenged ballots in the updated tally on Monday, Aug. 17.

The canvassing board certified primary election results on Tuesday. The race meets the criteria required for a manual recount under state law, when the difference between candidates is less than 150 votes and less than a quarter of a percent of the total votes cast.

Shepard and Collins acknowledged the race is headed to a recount in a joint video posted to social media.

“If anyone ever tells you your vote doesn’t matter, think differently because we know it does,” Shepard said in the video.

“Whichever one of us is going forward in November, we’re both going to be knocking on doors for Democrats,” Collins continued, with Shepard adding that he shares that commitment.

The recount will begin at 8 a.m. next Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Election Center in the Whatcom County Courthouse and is open to the public.

The winner between the two Democrats will join Republican Erika Creydt on the general election ballot for state Senate in November.

It’s the only local race that’s headed to a recount in Whatcom County’s primary election. Voter turnout for the election is tabbed at about 43%, which was five percentage points lower than the 2022 primary.