The 2016 Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction election was held on November 8, 2016, to elect the superintendent of public instruction of Washington, concurrently with the 2016 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 retired. State Representative Chris Reykdal defeated educator Erin Jones to succeed Dorn.https://www.chronline.com/stories/reykdal-will-be-states-next-superintendent-of-public-instruction,39677 While the race was officially non-partisan, both Reykdal and Jones identified as Democrats.https://www.chronline.com/stories/lawmaker-teaching-coach-vie-for-state-superintendent-post,42989

Background Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, first elected in 2008 with 52% of the vote and re-elected in 2012 unopposed, retired.

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 Erin Jones, educatorhttps://www.riseupforstudents.org/blog/erinjones-q-a Chris Reykdal, state representative and former world history teacherhttps://www.heraldnet.com/news/rep-chris-reykdal-to-run-for-washington-schools-chief/

Eliminated in primary John Patterson Blair, perennial candidate and former high school teacherhttps://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/education-and-training/2016-07-21/funding-testing-equality-hot-topics-in-crowded-state-superintendent-race Robin Fleming, educator Ron Higgins, substitute teacher and retired engineerhttps://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/education/article70657147.html KumRoon Maksirisombat, educatorhttps://nwasianweekly.com/2016/07/k-12-education-according-to-kumroon-maksirisombat/ Grazyna Prouty Al Runte David Spring, educatorhttps://mynorthwest.com/dave-ross-blog/school-superintendent-candidate-proposes-14k-raise-for-washington-teachers/304553

Declined Randy Dorn, incumbent state superintendent (2009–2017)

Endorsements

Results

General election

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin ChrisReykdal ErinJones UndecidedElway PollElway PollOctober 20–22, 2016502 (RV)± 4.5%17%18%65%Elway PollElway PollAugust 9–13, 2016500 (RV)± 4.5%16%16%68%

Results

By county +CountyChris Reykdal DemocraticErin Jones DemocraticMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,91748.67%2,02251.33%-105-2.67%3,939Asotin3,86748.69%4,07551.31%-208-2.62%7,942Benton36,39053.75%31,30846.25%5,0827.51%67,698Chelan13,84852.37%12,59447.63%1,2544.74%26,442Clallam16,18251.54%15,21348.46%9693.09%31,395Clark79,78249.52%81,31550.48%-1,533-0.95%161,097Columbia88550.28%87549.72%100.57%1,760Cowlitz18,96451.02%18,20948.98%7552.03%37,173Douglas6,46851.51%6,09048.49%3783.01%12,558Ferry1,50753.46%1,31246.54%1956.92%2,819Franklin10,12250.06%10,09849.94%240.12%20,220Garfield52252.78%46747.22%555.56%989Grant12,10151.44%11,42348.56%6782.88%23,524Grays Harbor12,40752.50%11,22547.50%1,1825.00%23,632Island17,27449.43%17,67350.57%-399-1.14%34,947Jefferson9,31855.97%7,33044.03%1,98811.94%16,648King421,76251.85%391,72648.15%30,0363.69%813,488Kitsap49,67348.37%53,01451.63%-3,341-3.25%102,687Kittitas7,91053.77%6,80146.23%1,1097.54%14,711Klickitat4,16749.39%4,27050.61%-103-1.22%8,437Lewis14,79752.50%13,38947.50%1,4085.00%28,186Lincoln2,53054.75%2,09145.25%4399.50%4,621Mason11,93752.26%10,90447.74%1,0334.52%22,841Okanogan7,11851.06%6,82248.94%2962.12%13,940Pacific4,27150.48%4,18949.52%820.97%8,460Pend Oreille2,91051.85%2,70248.15%2083.71%5,612Pierce137,02547.59%150,87752.41%-13,852-4.81%287,902San Juan3,55341.29%5,05258.71%-1,499-17.42%8,605Skagit23,29051.44%21,98848.56%1,3022.88%45,278Skamania2,22851.22%2,12248.78%1062.44%4,350Snohomish145,52850.25%144,08449.75%1,4440.50%289,612Spokane92,08648.16%99,12551.84%-7,039-3.68%191,211Stevens9,35551.74%8,72748.26%6283.47%18,082Thurston67,96459.75%45,77640.25%22,18819.51%113,740Wahkiakum1,05957.90%77042.10%28915.80%1,829Walla Walla9,87846.98%11,14753.02%-1,269-6.04%21,025Whatcom39,28643.88%50,24956.12%-10,963-12.24%89,535Whitman7,28850.92%7,02549.08%2631.84%14,313Yakima30,37845.89%35,81754.11%-5,439-8.22%66,195Totals1,337,54750.52%1,309,89649.48%27,6511.04%2,647,443

References

External links Official campaign websites Chris Reykdal for Superintendent of Public Instruction