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. While the race was officially non-partisan, both Bergeson and Dorn identified as Democrats.

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) Randy Dorn, former state representative

Eliminated in primary John P. Blair, perennial candidate and former high school teacher David Blomstrom, perennial candidate Enid Duncan Don Hansler, retired educator

Results

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin TerryBergeson RandyDorn UndecidedSurveyUSAOctober 30 – November 2, 2008663 (LV)± 3.9%37%45%18%SurveyUSAOctober 26–27, 2008630 (LV)± 4.0%38%43%19%SurveyUSAOctober 12–13, 2008544 (LV)± 4.3%31%43%26%SurveyUSASeptember 21–22, 2008682 (LV)± 3.8%35%40%25%SurveyUSASeptember 5–7, 2008658 (LV)± 3.9%36%41%23%SurveyUSAAugust 11–12, 2008718 (LV)± 3.7%32%43%25%SurveyUSAJuly 13–15, 2008666 (LV)± 3.9%34%32%35%

Results

By county +CountyTerry Bergeson DemocraticRandy Dorn DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams2,07548.44%2,20951.56%1343.13%4,284Asotin4,69955.93%3,70244.07%-997-11.87%8,401Benton26,76641.68%37,45658.32%10,69016.65%64,222Chelan12,05443.83%15,44556.17%3,39112.33%27,499Clallam17,02652.57%15,36347.43%-1,663-5.13%32,389Clark74,75950.31%73,84249.69%-917-0.62%148,601Columbia1,05254.37%88345.63%-169-8.73%1,935Cowlitz20,83254.52%17,37845.48%-3,454-9.04%38,210Douglas5,39840.33%7,98859.67%2,59019.35%13,386Ferry1,51652.06%1,39647.94%-120-4.12%2,912Franklin7,50643.11%9,90556.89%2,39913.78%17,411Garfield60752.87%54147.13%-66-5.75%1,148Grant11,39747.28%12,71052.72%1,3135.45%24,107Grays Harbor11,80945.72%14,01954.28%2,2108.56%25,828Island16,69847.17%18,69952.83%2,0015.65%35,397Jefferson8,71852.90%7,76147.10%-957-5.81%16,479King352,26748.13%379,70251.87%27,4353.75%731,969Kitsap50,48546.84%57,29053.16%6,8056.31%107,775Kittitas6,78545.11%8,25754.89%1,4729.79%15,042Klickitat4,37653.70%3,77346.30%-603-7.40%8,149Lewis13,57145.03%16,56954.97%2,9989.95%30,140Lincoln2,37445.63%2,82954.37%4558.74%5,203Mason11,66146.55%13,39053.45%1,7296.90%25,051Okanogan6,84048.84%7,16651.16%3262.33%14,006Pacific4,96753.46%4,32446.54%-643-6.92%9,291Pend Oreille2,81650.54%2,75649.46%-60-1.08%5,572Pierce129,75545.01%158,53954.99%28,7849.98%288,294San Juan4,57554.62%3,80145.38%-774-9.24%8,376Skagit21,58745.52%25,84154.48%4,2548.97%47,428Skamania2,42655.14%1,97444.86%-452-10.27%4,400Snohomish121,32143.90%155,01156.10%33,69012.19%276,332Spokane97,09551.33%92,08048.67%-5,015-2.65%189,175Stevens8,93147.84%9,73652.16%8054.31%18,667Thurston50,82446.53%58,39653.47%7,5726.93%109,220Wahkiakum1,06158.65%74841.35%-313-17.30%1,809Walla Walla11,88156.64%9,09543.36%-2,786-13.28%20,976Whatcom39,85948.47%42,37551.53%2,5163.06%82,234Whitman7,38350.70%7,18049.30%-203-1.39%14,563Yakima36,15752.16%33,16147.84%-2,996-4.32%69,318Totals1,211,90947.62%1,333,29052.38%121,3814.77%2,545,199

References

External links Official campaign websites Terry Bergeson for Superintendent of Public Instruction David Blomstrom for Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn for Superintendent of Public Instruction