Tillamook County general elections take place this Nov. 3, 2026. Here’s what you need to know before you vote. The county clerk’s proof ballot includes 31 contests and 52 filed candidates, and the ballots haven’t yet been mailed. Always check your ballot for the most accurate information.
Before you vote
The last day to register to vote, or to change your party, is Tuesday, Oct. 13. A registration card postmarked that day still counts. You can also register or update online at My Vote, or in person at the clerk’s office, through that day.
Counties can start mailing ballots on Wednesday, Oct. 14. That is also the day official drop sites open. Mail takes a few days. If you have not received a ballot by Monday, Oct. 19, call the clerk and they will get you one. Only one ballot from an eligible voter can be counted.
You can return the ballot by mail or at any official drop site in the county. It has to be postmarked, or in a drop box, by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Sign the return envelope. An unsigned envelope does not count.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The elections office in the Tillamook County Courthouse will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop sites close at 8 p.m.
The county does not publish a local voters’ pamphlet, and it has not in prior years. The clerk’s office says one was not budgeted or staffed for this cycle. A pamphlet takes dedicated staff, a secure publication process, set timelines, and a fee schedule adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. The office is looking at whether it can offer one in a future budget cycle. The state Voters’ Pamphlet still covers the federal and statewide races, and it is online at sos.oregon.gov/voting.
The clerk’s office can answer questions about registration, a missing ballot, or a drop site. Christy Nyseth, Tillamook County Clerk, 201 Laurel Ave., Tillamook, 503-842-3402, clerk@tillamookcounty.gov. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Two other dates on the clerk’s calendar: the public test of the ballot-counting equipment is Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. in the clerk’s office. The Pacific City election town hall is Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Kiawanda Community Center. No registration is required.
There is no statewide measure on this ballot. The only measure in Tillamook County is Rockaway Beach’s charter amendment, and it appears only on Rockaway Beach ballots. Most city races have a single candidate. The contests with a choice are governor, the U.S. Senate, Congress, Senate District 16, House District 32, the Bay City mayor and council, and two Nehalem council seats.
On every Tillamook County ballot
Governor, 4-year term. Tina Kotek (Democrat, Working Families), Christine Drazan (Republican, Libertarian), and Brett Smith (Pacific Green).
U.S. Senate, 6-year term. Jeff Merkley (Democrat, Working Families), David Brock Smith (Republican), Gary Lyndon Dye (Libertarian), and Chris Henry (Progressive, Pacific Green).
U.S. House, District 1, 2-year term. Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat, Working Families) and Barbara J Kahl (Republican).
State Senate, District 16, 4-year term. This is an open seat. Courtney Bangs (Republican), Rachel Armitage (Democrat), and Melisa Finkle (Independent).
State House, District 32, 2-year term. Cyrus Javadi (Democrat, Independent), the incumbent, and Max Sherman (Republican).
County Treasurer, 4-year term. Debra Jacob. This is a nonpartisan office, so no party appears by her name. She is the only candidate.
Cities
Tillamook
Every seat has one candidate. Mayor Aaron Burris is running for a 4-year term. On the council, Hope Bouchard is running in Ward 2 for a 4-year term, Jeff Spink in Ward 4 for a 4-year term, Dean Crist in Ward 5 for an unexpired term, and Justin Aufdermauer in Ward 6 for a 4-year term.
Bay City
This is the contested city race. For mayor, a 2-year term, the candidates are Parker Sammons and William Howard. For council, voters can choose up to three candidates for 4-year terms. Eight people filed: Kathleen Baker, Robin L Pepper, Helen M Wright, Derek McCarthy, Penny Eberle, Kathleen Todd, Stephen Owens, and Kathleen Leipzig. The Pioneer has already published their answers to the candidate questions. The Bay City candidate forum is Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. at Ad Montgomery Community Hall, 5525 B Street.
Garibaldi
The mayor’s seat is a 2-year term, and Linda Bade is the only candidate. Two council seats are open, each for a 4-year term. Two people filed, so both seats are uncontested: Norman (Bud) Shattuck and Connye A Corey.
Manzanita
The mayor’s seat is a 2-year term, and Shawn Koch is the only candidate. Two council seats are open, each for a 4-year term. Two people filed, so both seats are uncontested: Brian Postle and Nancy Turner.
Nehalem
Mayor Dave Cram is the only candidate, for a 2-year term. Council Position 1 is a 4-year term, and Hilary Howell is the only candidate. Position 2 is an unexpired term, and it is contested: David Browning and Lydia O’Connor. Position 4 is a 4-year term, and it is contested: Ben O’Connor and S Doug Larzelier.
Rockaway Beach
Mayor Charles McNeilly is the only candidate, for a 2-year term. Council Position 4 is a 4-year term, and Pat Ryan is the only candidate. Measure 29-187 is also on this ballot.
Wheeler
There is no mayor race. Two council seats are open, each for a 4-year term. Two people filed, so both seats are uncontested: Shirley Kling and Kate Cloran.
Districts
Tillamook People’s Utility District. Three director seats are up, each for a 4-year term, and each has one candidate. Subdivision 2 is David Burt. Subdivision 4 is Valerie Folkema. Subdivision 5 is Barbara Trout. Your ballot shows only the subdivision you live in.
Tillamook County Soil and Water Conservation District. Three director seats are up, each for a 4-year term, and each has one candidate. At-large No. 2 is (Joe) Joseph M Price. Zone 1 is Walt Porter. Zone 2 is Daren Filosi. Your ballot shows the at-large seat and the zone you live in.
Measure 29-187, Rockaway Beach only
The caption is City of Rockaway Beach City Charter Amendment. The question is: Shall the City of Rockaway Beach amend the existing City Charter?
The city council referred this measure. Charter amendments have to go to the voters. A yes vote would write the city’s home-rule power into the charter, remove the mayor and councilors’ duty as heads of departments so the charter matches a council-manager city, stagger terms so about half the seats are up at each general election, change the mayor’s term from 2 years to 4 years beginning with the 2030 election, state that the office is vacant on death, adjudicated incompetence, or recall, allow the municipal judge to commit someone to jail or admit them to bail on a city offense, and clean up repeated text and cross-references. The full text is at City Hall and at rockawaybeachoregon.gov.
