2004 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
November 2, 2004
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Bergeson: 50–60% 60–70% Billings: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2004 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election was held on November 2, 2004, to elect the superintendent of public instruction of Washington, concurrently with the 2004 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the U.S. Senate and various state and local elections, including for U.S. House and governor of Washington. Incumbent superintendent of public instruction Terry Bergeson was re-elected to a third term in office, defeating former superintendent of public instruction Judith Billings.[1] While the race was officially non-partisan, both Bergeson and Billings identified as Democrats.[2][3]
Primary election
Due to the nonpartisan nature of the office, this was the only Washington election in 2004 that had a nonpartisan primary in which all candidates were listed on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to the general election if no candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary.[4] The primary election was held on September 14.[5]
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Terry Bergeson, incumbent state superintendent (1997–2009)[6]
- Judith Billings, former state superintendent (1989–1997)[7]
Eliminated in primary
- John Blair, perennial candidate and former high school teacher[8]
- David Blomstrom, perennial candidate[8]
- Juanita Doyon, activist[6]
- KumRoon Maksirisombat, educator[6]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 366,200 | 36.24 | |
| Nonpartisan | Judith Billings | 355,973 | 35.22 | |
| Nonpartisan | John Blair | 91,914 | 9.10 | |
| Nonpartisan | Juanita Doyon | 86,454 | 8.55 | |
| Nonpartisan | KumRoon Maksirisombat | 55,679 | 5.51 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Blomstrom | 54,370 | 5.38 | |
| Total votes | 1,010,590 | 100.00 | ||
| Elections in Washington (state) |
|---|
General election
Endorsements
Terry Bergeson
Newspapers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 1,293,560 | 55.51 | |
| Nonpartisan | Judith Billings | 1,036,912 | 44.49 | |
| Total votes | 2,330,472 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
By county
| County[11] | Terry Bergeson
Democratic |
Judith Billings
Democratic |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 2,456 | 57.20% | 1,838 | 42.80% | 618 | 14.39% | 4,294 |
| Asotin | 4,513 | 64.56% | 2,477 | 35.44% | 2,036 | 29.13% | 6,990 |
| Benton | 32,396 | 60.31% | 21,321 | 39.69% | 11,075 | 20.62% | 53,717 |
| Chelan | 12,279 | 51.22% | 11,692 | 48.78% | 587 | 2.45% | 23,971 |
| Clallam | 15,879 | 56.33% | 12,310 | 43.67% | 3,569 | 12.66% | 28,189 |
| Clark | 81,452 | 61.72% | 50,518 | 38.28% | 30,934 | 23.44% | 131,970 |
| Columbia | 1,094 | 62.55% | 655 | 37.45% | 439 | 25.10% | 1,749 |
| Cowlitz | 20,398 | 58.16% | 14,673 | 41.84% | 5,725 | 16.32% | 35,071 |
| Douglas | 5,483 | 48.68% | 5,781 | 51.32% | -298 | -2.65% | 11,264 |
| Ferry | 1,517 | 57.14% | 1,138 | 42.86% | 379 | 14.27% | 2,655 |
| Franklin | 7,557 | 57.28% | 5,635 | 42.72% | 1,922 | 14.57% | 13,192 |
| Garfield | 620 | 59.50% | 422 | 40.50% | 198 | 19.00% | 1,042 |
| Grant | 12,611 | 57.90% | 9,169 | 42.10% | 3,442 | 15.80% | 21,780 |
| Grays Harbor | 12,721 | 52.78% | 11,383 | 47.22% | 1,338 | 5.55% | 24,104 |
| Island | 17,879 | 58.24% | 12,820 | 41.76% | 5,059 | 16.48% | 30,699 |
| Jefferson | 8,508 | 55.29% | 6,879 | 44.71% | 1,629 | 10.59% | 15,387 |
| King | 380,080 | 53.88% | 325,381 | 46.12% | 54,699 | 7.75% | 705,461 |
| Kitsap | 56,818 | 56.10% | 44,465 | 43.90% | 12,353 | 12.20% | 101,283 |
| Kittitas | 7,077 | 52.52% | 6,397 | 47.48% | 680 | 5.05% | 13,474 |
| Klickitat | 4,253 | 59.90% | 2,847 | 40.10% | 1,406 | 19.80% | 7,100 |
| Lewis | 13,916 | 52.35% | 12,669 | 47.65% | 1,247 | 4.69% | 26,585 |
| Lincoln | 2,712 | 58.17% | 1,950 | 41.83% | 762 | 16.34% | 4,662 |
| Mason | 12,409 | 59.07% | 8,598 | 40.93% | 3,811 | 18.14% | 21,007 |
| Okanogan | 7,078 | 54.33% | 5,949 | 45.67% | 1,129 | 8.67% | 13,027 |
| Pacific | 4,638 | 56.47% | 3,575 | 43.53% | 1,063 | 12.94% | 8,213 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,887 | 56.79% | 2,197 | 43.21% | 690 | 13.57% | 5,084 |
| Pierce | 137,207 | 51.87% | 127,299 | 48.13% | 9,908 | 3.75% | 264,506 |
| San Juan | 4,348 | 55.45% | 3,494 | 44.55% | 854 | 10.89% | 7,842 |
| Skagit | 24,452 | 56.24% | 19,024 | 43.76% | 5,428 | 12.49% | 43,476 |
| Skamania | 2,375 | 58.60% | 1,678 | 41.40% | 697 | 17.20% | 4,053 |
| Snohomish | 138,632 | 55.77% | 109,956 | 44.23% | 28,676 | 11.54% | 248,588 |
| Spokane | 98,613 | 58.67% | 69,481 | 41.33% | 29,132 | 17.33% | 168,094 |
| Stevens | 9,292 | 58.27% | 6,655 | 41.73% | 2,637 | 16.54% | 15,947 |
| Thurston | 53,842 | 55.41% | 43,325 | 44.59% | 10,517 | 10.82% | 97,167 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,045 | 60.76% | 675 | 39.24% | 370 | 21.51% | 1,720 |
| Walla Walla | 11,537 | 61.44% | 7,240 | 38.56% | 4,297 | 22.88% | 18,777 |
| Whatcom | 38,461 | 55.47% | 30,876 | 44.53% | 7,585 | 10.94% | 69,337 |
| Whitman | 7,857 | 55.57% | 6,283 | 44.43% | 1,574 | 11.13% | 14,140 |
| Yakima | 36,668 | 56.54% | 28,187 | 43.46% | 8,481 | 13.08% | 64,855 |
| Totals | 1,293,560 | 55.51% | 1,036,912 | 44.49% | 256,648 | 11.01% | 2,330,472 |
References
- ^ https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/bergeson-retains-job-as-school-chief-1158372.php
- ^ "Munro, Pritchard Endorse Bergeson For Superintendent". Spokesman.com. October 22, 1996.
- ^ "News In Brief". June 19, 1996.
Washington state schools Superintendent Judith A. Billings said this month that she will not run for Congress. Ms. Billings, a Democrat, had contemplated a challenge for Republican Rep. Randy Tate's seat in the U.S. House.
- ^ https://www.chronline.com/stories/billings-seeks-superintendents-office-again,238825
- ^ "Reed asks voters to participate in state primaries". September 8, 2004.
- ^ a b c https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2004/sep/13/candidates-for-state-superintendent-on-wasl/
- ^ https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/former-state-school-chief-billings-to-run-for-her-1149904.php
- ^ a b https://dailyastorian.com/2004/09/12/democrat-challenges-incumbent-for-pacific-county-commission/
- ^ Reed, Sam (September 14, 2004). "Elections Search Results September 2004 Primary". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (October 31, 2004). "The Seattle Times endorses ..." The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ a b Reed, Sam (November 2, 2004). "Elections Search Results November 2004 General Superintendent of Public Instruction". Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved January 31, 2026.