1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1988. Popular Incumbent Governor James G. Martin ran and was re-elected by a comfortable margin over Democratic Challenger former Lieutenant Governor Robert B. Jordan III.

1988 North Carolina gubernatorial election

← 1984 November 8, 1988 1992 →
 
Nominee James G. Martin Robert B. Jordan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 1,222,258 997,408
Percentage 55.06% 44.94%

County results

Martin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Jordan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

James Martin
Republican

Elected Governor

James Martin
Republican

As of 2024, this is the only time that a Republican was re-elected to a second term as Governor of North Carolina. This is the second of two times where Republicans won consecutive gubernatorial elections, after 1868 and 1872. This also marks the last occasion that the following counties have voted Republican in a gubernatorial election: Buncombe, Guilford, and Wilson.

Primary election results

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1988 NC Governor Democratic Primary Election Results[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert B. Jordan 404,620 79.20%
Democratic Billy Martin 60,770 11.97%
Democratic Carrol W. Crawford 21,884 4.30%
Democratic James Lloyd 10,438 2.06%
Democratic Bruce A. Friedman 9,876 1.95%

General election results

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1988 NC Governor Election Results[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James G. Martin (incumbent) 1,222,258 55.06%
Democratic Robert B. Jordan 997,408 44.94% −0.47%
Turnout 2,219,66 100%

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Our Campaigns - NC Governor - D Primary Race - May 03, 1988".
  2. ^ "Atlas Forum Index". Atlas Forum. July 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.