2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election
November 4, 2008
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Dorn: 50–60% Bergeson: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the superintendent of public instruction of Washington, concurrently with the 2008 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 ran for re-election to a fourth term in office but was defeated by former state Representative Randy Dorn.[1] While the race was officially non-partisan, both Bergeson and Dorn identified as Democrats.[2][3]
Primary election
Washington is one of two states that holds a top-two primary, meaning all candidates are listed on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two advance to the general election.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Terry Bergeson, incumbent state superintendent (1997–2009)[4]
- Randy Dorn, former state representative[5]
Eliminated in primary
- John P. Blair, perennial candidate and former high school teacher[6]
- David Blomstrom, perennial candidate[4]
- Enid Duncan[6]
- Don Hansler, retired educator[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 477,130 | 39.31 | |
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 414,313 | 34.13 | |
| Nonpartisan | Don Hansler | 108,984 | 8.98 | |
| Nonpartisan | John P. Blair | 90,508 | 7.46 | |
| Nonpartisan | Enid Duncan | 78,983 | 6.51 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Blomstrom | 43,984 | 3.62 | |
| Total votes | 1,213,902 | 100.00 | ||
| Elections in Washington (state) |
|---|
General election
Endorsements
Terry Bergeson
Newspapers
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Terry Bergeson |
Randy Dorn |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[9] | October 30 – November 2, 2008 | 663 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 37% | 45% | 18% |
| SurveyUSA[10] | October 26–27, 2008 | 630 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 38% | 43% | 19% |
| SurveyUSA[11] | October 12–13, 2008 | 544 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 31% | 43% | 26% |
| SurveyUSA[12] | September 21–22, 2008 | 682 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 35% | 40% | 25% |
| SurveyUSA[13] | September 5–7, 2008 | 658 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 36% | 41% | 23% |
| SurveyUSA[14] | August 11–12, 2008 | 718 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 32% | 43% | 25% |
| SurveyUSA[15] | July 13–15, 2008 | 666 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 34% | 32% | 35% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Randy Dorn | 1,333,290 | 52.38 | |
| Nonpartisan | Terry Bergeson (incumbent) | 1,211,909 | 47.62 | |
| Total votes | 2,545,199 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
By county
| County[17] | Terry Bergeson
Democratic |
Randy Dorn
Democratic |
Margin | Total votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 2,075 | 48.44% | 2,209 | 51.56% | 134 | 3.13% | 4,284 |
| Asotin | 4,699 | 55.93% | 3,702 | 44.07% | -997 | -11.87% | 8,401 |
| Benton | 26,766 | 41.68% | 37,456 | 58.32% | 10,690 | 16.65% | 64,222 |
| Chelan | 12,054 | 43.83% | 15,445 | 56.17% | 3,391 | 12.33% | 27,499 |
| Clallam | 17,026 | 52.57% | 15,363 | 47.43% | -1,663 | -5.13% | 32,389 |
| Clark | 74,759 | 50.31% | 73,842 | 49.69% | -917 | -0.62% | 148,601 |
| Columbia | 1,052 | 54.37% | 883 | 45.63% | -169 | -8.73% | 1,935 |
| Cowlitz | 20,832 | 54.52% | 17,378 | 45.48% | -3,454 | -9.04% | 38,210 |
| Douglas | 5,398 | 40.33% | 7,988 | 59.67% | 2,590 | 19.35% | 13,386 |
| Ferry | 1,516 | 52.06% | 1,396 | 47.94% | -120 | -4.12% | 2,912 |
| Franklin | 7,506 | 43.11% | 9,905 | 56.89% | 2,399 | 13.78% | 17,411 |
| Garfield | 607 | 52.87% | 541 | 47.13% | -66 | -5.75% | 1,148 |
| Grant | 11,397 | 47.28% | 12,710 | 52.72% | 1,313 | 5.45% | 24,107 |
| Grays Harbor | 11,809 | 45.72% | 14,019 | 54.28% | 2,210 | 8.56% | 25,828 |
| Island | 16,698 | 47.17% | 18,699 | 52.83% | 2,001 | 5.65% | 35,397 |
| Jefferson | 8,718 | 52.90% | 7,761 | 47.10% | -957 | -5.81% | 16,479 |
| King | 352,267 | 48.13% | 379,702 | 51.87% | 27,435 | 3.75% | 731,969 |
| Kitsap | 50,485 | 46.84% | 57,290 | 53.16% | 6,805 | 6.31% | 107,775 |
| Kittitas | 6,785 | 45.11% | 8,257 | 54.89% | 1,472 | 9.79% | 15,042 |
| Klickitat | 4,376 | 53.70% | 3,773 | 46.30% | -603 | -7.40% | 8,149 |
| Lewis | 13,571 | 45.03% | 16,569 | 54.97% | 2,998 | 9.95% | 30,140 |
| Lincoln | 2,374 | 45.63% | 2,829 | 54.37% | 455 | 8.74% | 5,203 |
| Mason | 11,661 | 46.55% | 13,390 | 53.45% | 1,729 | 6.90% | 25,051 |
| Okanogan | 6,840 | 48.84% | 7,166 | 51.16% | 326 | 2.33% | 14,006 |
| Pacific | 4,967 | 53.46% | 4,324 | 46.54% | -643 | -6.92% | 9,291 |
| Pend Oreille | 2,816 | 50.54% | 2,756 | 49.46% | -60 | -1.08% | 5,572 |
| Pierce | 129,755 | 45.01% | 158,539 | 54.99% | 28,784 | 9.98% | 288,294 |
| San Juan | 4,575 | 54.62% | 3,801 | 45.38% | -774 | -9.24% | 8,376 |
| Skagit | 21,587 | 45.52% | 25,841 | 54.48% | 4,254 | 8.97% | 47,428 |
| Skamania | 2,426 | 55.14% | 1,974 | 44.86% | -452 | -10.27% | 4,400 |
| Snohomish | 121,321 | 43.90% | 155,011 | 56.10% | 33,690 | 12.19% | 276,332 |
| Spokane | 97,095 | 51.33% | 92,080 | 48.67% | -5,015 | -2.65% | 189,175 |
| Stevens | 8,931 | 47.84% | 9,736 | 52.16% | 805 | 4.31% | 18,667 |
| Thurston | 50,824 | 46.53% | 58,396 | 53.47% | 7,572 | 6.93% | 109,220 |
| Wahkiakum | 1,061 | 58.65% | 748 | 41.35% | -313 | -17.30% | 1,809 |
| Walla Walla | 11,881 | 56.64% | 9,095 | 43.36% | -2,786 | -13.28% | 20,976 |
| Whatcom | 39,859 | 48.47% | 42,375 | 51.53% | 2,516 | 3.06% | 82,234 |
| Whitman | 7,383 | 50.70% | 7,180 | 49.30% | -203 | -1.39% | 14,563 |
| Yakima | 36,157 | 52.16% | 33,161 | 47.84% | -2,996 | -4.32% | 69,318 |
| Totals | 1,211,909 | 47.62% | 1,333,290 | 52.38% | 121,381 | 4.77% | 2,545,199 |
References
- ^ Shaw, Linda (November 7, 2008). "Randy Dorn defeats Bergeson for state schools post". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ "Munro, Pritchard Endorse Bergeson For Superintendent". Spokesman.com. October 22, 1996.
- ^ "Challenger poised to unseat schools chief". November 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c Gordon Blankinship, Donna (May 15, 2008). "State schools chief feels heat". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ "Randy Dorn Campaigning in Eastern Washington". NonStop Local Tri-Cities/Yakima. June 20, 2008.
- ^ a b Reports, Staff (July 18, 2008). "Election registration date looms".
- ^ Reed, Sam (August 19, 2008). "Superintendent of Public Instruction". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ Editorial Board, The Seattle Times (October 31, 2008). "Seattle Times endorsements for Election Day". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14791". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14717". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14594". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14443". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14342". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14216". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ "SurveyUSA Election Poll #14117". www.surveyusa.com.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Superintendent of Public Instruction". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ Reed, Sam (November 4, 2008). "Superintendent of Public Instruction - County Results". Secretary of State of Washington. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
External links
Official campaign websites