2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election

2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election
November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
 
Candidate June Atkinson Richard Morgan
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 2,177,934 1,881,075
Percentage 53.66% 46.34%
County results
Atkinson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Morgan:      50–60%      60–70%
Superintendent of Public Instruction before election

June Atkinson
Democratic

Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction

June Atkinson
Democratic

The 2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, concurrently with the 2008 presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, the Council of State, and other state, local, and judicial elections. Primary elections were held on May 6, 2008.[1]

Incumbent Democratic state superintendent June Atkinson defeated former Republican state legislator Richard Morgan in the general election.[2][3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		June
Atkinson 		Eddie
Davis 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[7] April 26–27, 2008 1,121 (LV) ± 2.9% 35% 17% 48%
Public Policy Polling[8] April 19–20, 2008 962 (LV) ± 3.2% 34% 14% 52%
Public Policy Polling[9] April 19–20, 2008 962 (LV) ± 3.2% 34% 14% 52%
Public Policy Polling[10] March 3, 2008 508 (LV) ± 4.3% 37% 14% 49%
Public Policy Polling[11] December 3, 2007 676 (LV) ± 3.7% 38% 13% 48%
Public Policy Polling[12] October 3, 2007 621 (LV) ± 3.9% 32% 15% 54%

Results

Primary results by county
  Atkinson
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Davis
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
Democratic primary results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic June Atkinson (incumbent) 660,556 52.86%
Democratic Eddie Davis 589,126 47.14%
Total votes 1,249,682 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Richard
Morgan 		Eric
Smith 		Joe
Johnson 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16] May 3–4, 2008 662 (LV) ± 3.8% 19% 13% 12% 56%
Public Policy Polling[17] April 26–27, 2008 622 (LV) ± 3.9% 16% 10% 9% 65%
Public Policy Polling[18] April 19–20, 2008 602 (LV) ± 3.9% 13% 11% 7% 69%
Public Policy Polling[19] March 29–30, 2008 744 (LV) ± 3.6% 17% 11% 10% 62%
Public Policy Polling[20] March 3, 2008 778 (LV) ± 3.5% 16% 8% 12% 64%

Results

Primary results by county
  Morgan
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Smith
  •   40–50%
  Johnson
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
Republican primary results[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Morgan 203,090 51.34%
Republican Eric Smith 97,098 24.55%
Republican Joe Johnson 95,382 24.11%
Total votes 395,570 100.00%

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		June
Atkinson (D) 		Richard
Morgan (R) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling[21] October 18–19, 2008 1,200 (LV) ± 2.8% 50% 38% 12%
Public Policy Polling[22] September 28–29, 2008 1,041 (LV) ± 3.0% 45% 38% 18%
Public Policy Polling[23] August 20–23, 2008 904 (LV) ± 3.3% 39% 34% 27%
Public Policy Polling[24] June 26–29, 2008 1,048 (LV) ± 3.0% 39% 35% 26%
Public Policy Polling[25] July 23–27, 2008 823 (LV) ± 3.4% 44% 37% 20%
Public Policy Polling[26] May 8–9, 2008 616 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 36% 22%

Results

2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic June Atkinson (incumbent) 2,177,934 53.66%
Republican Richard Morgan 1,881,075 46.34%
Total votes 4,059,009 100.00%
Democratic hold

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ^ "Historical Election Results | Board of Elections | Johnston County, North Carolina". Johnston County, North Carolina. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  2. ^ "Perdue becomes N.C.'s first female governor". WRAL News. November 4, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  3. ^ Christensen, Rob (October 17, 2018). "Saying goodbye to three men who wrote NC's political history". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 9, 2026. Morgan, who owned an insurance agency, ran unsuccessfully for superintendent of public instruction in 2008 and for commissioner of insurance in 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Educator, ex-lawmaker vie for N.C. superintendent post". WRAL News. October 30, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  5. ^ Heaslip, Jennifer (September 29, 2007). "Former Weldon educator makes bid for N.C. superintendent of public instruction in 2008". The Daily Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  6. ^ Khanna, Samiha (January 18, 2012). "Past Winner: Eddie Davis, Class of '85". Indy Week. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  7. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (April 28, 2008). "Presidential race narrows in NC" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  8. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (April 21, 2008). "Obama, Perdue, Hagan lead in NC" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  9. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (March 5, 2008). "Obama up a little, Perdue lead balloons" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  10. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (May 5, 2008). "Obama holds 10 point lead" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  11. ^ Debnam, Dean (December 4, 2007). "Polls Remain Stable Despite Flurry of Activity" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  12. ^ Debnam, Dean (October 8, 2007). "After announcement Perdue leads by 10 percent" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  13. ^ a b "NC SBE Contest Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  14. ^ "Got a Minute ... with Joe Johnson". Times-News. July 6, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  15. ^ Schofield, Rob (April 2, 2008). "The earth is shifting: Republican candidates endorse public financing". NC Newsline. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  16. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (May 5, 2008). "McCrory, Smith remain tight" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (April 29, 2008). "Smith continues to whittle away" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  18. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (April 22, 2008). "McCrory still in good shape" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  19. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (April 1, 2008). "McCrory ups lead to double digits" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  20. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (March 4, 2008). "McCrory maintains small lead" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  21. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (October 21, 2008). "Perdue lead grows" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  22. ^ Jensen, Tom (September 30, 2008). "McCrory takes the lead" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  23. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (August 27, 2008). "Most Statewide Races Close" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  24. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (July 30, 2008). "Perdue breaks race open" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  25. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (July 2, 2008). "Most Council of State Races Close" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  26. ^ Debnam, Dean; Jensen, Tom (May 13, 2008). "McCrory, Perdue Knotted" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  27. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
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