2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election

The 2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the superintendent of public instruction of Washington, concurrently with the 2012 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 Randy Dorn was re-elected to a second term unopposed.^[1]

2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election

← 2008 2016 →

Nominee Randy Dorn Party Independent Popular vote 2,164,163 Percentage 100.00%

County results Dorn:      90–100%

Superintendent of Public Instruction before election Randy Dorn Independent Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn Independent

Background

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, first elected in 2008 with 52% of the vote, ran for re-election to a second term in office.^[2]

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

• Randy Dorn, incumbent state superintendent (2009–2017)^[2]

Eliminated in primary

• James Bauckman, educator^[3]
• John P. Blair, perennial candidate and former high school teacher^[3]
• Donald Hansler, retired educator^[3]
• Ron Higgins, substitute teacher and retired engineer^[4]

Endorsements

Randy Dorn

Newspapers

• The Seattle Times^[5]

Results

Due to Dorn receiving a majority of the vote in the primary election he was the only candidate to advance to the general election, in which he ran unopposed.^[1]

Blanket primary results by county

  Dorn

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

Blanket primary election results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Randy Dorn (incumbent)	634,314	56.22
	Nonpartisan	Ron Higgins	172,331	15.27
	Nonpartisan	James Bauckman	149,370	13.24
	Nonpartisan	Donald Hansler	104,360	9.25
	Nonpartisan	John P. Blair	67,898	6.02
Total votes			1,128,273	100.00

General election

Results

2012 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Randy Dorn (incumbent)	2,164,163	100.00
Total votes			2,164,163	100.00
	Democratic hold