Legislative District 42 - State Senator
August 4, 2026 · Legislative (Senate) District 42; Washington · State senate district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 31 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 160,832 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(164,798 ÷ 160,832) ÷ ln(164,798 ÷ 152,644) = 31.8, comparing state senate districts in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Eamonn Collins
Democratic · declared
Eamonn Collins is the Democratic candidate for Washington State Senate in Legislative District 42. He is a high school science teacher at Lummi Nation School and volunteer vice president of Kulshan Community Land Trust. Collins previously worked as a U.S. Senate and House policy adviser, and he served on the 2025 Whatcom County Charter Review Commission. His campaign focuses on tax fairness, permanently affordable housing, and a resilient local economy.
Records: Government Efficiency 1 for
Erika Creydt
Republican · declared
Erika Creydt is the Republican candidate for Washington State Senate in Legislative District 42 and a Blaine School Board director. She is a clinical psychologist and founder of Touchstone Counseling Group, with more than 20 years of youth mental-health experience. Her campaign emphasizes affordability, mental-health access, schools, family farms, water access, and support for small businesses.
Records: Government Spending Reduction 1 for
Michael Alvarez Shepard
Democratic · declared
Michael Alvarez Shepard is the Democratic candidate for Washington State Senate in Legislative District 42 and the Port of Bellingham's District 1 commissioner, serving a term through 2029. He is also a professor in Western Washington University's Anthropology Department. Shepard's Port work includes workforce development, environmental sustainability, marine resource management, and affordable housing. He previously worked for Northwest Indian College and Whatcom Community College and holds two degrees from Western Washington University and a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia.
Ryan Bowman
No party preference · declared
Ryan Bowman, also known as Rye Bow, is a no-party-preference candidate for Washington State Senate in Legislative District 42. He describes himself as a small-business owner, caregiver, entrepreneur, and community advocate with work in massage therapy, food service, caregiving, and small-business operations. Bowman served on the 2025 Whatcom County Charter Review Commission. His RISE platform emphasizes community-centered growth, labor and workforce development, environmental responsibility, and support for children and elders.
Election sources
Source: sos.wa.gov
Source: sos.wa.gov
Source: www2.sos.wa.gov