2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election

2008 North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction election

←  2004 November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04) 2012  →

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

• June Atkinson, incumbent state superintendent (2004–present) ^[4]

Eliminated in primary

• Eddie Davis, educator from Weldon and former president of the North Carolina Association of Educators ^{[5] [6]}

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

• Richard Morgan, speaker pro tempore of the North Carolina House of Representatives (2005–2007) and former state representative from the 31st district (1991–2003) and 52nd district (2003–2007) ^[4]

Eliminated in primary

• Joe Johnson, former director of public affairs for the Henderson County Sheriff's Office ^[14]
• Eric Smith ^[15]

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. 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. "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. "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.