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. Martin also made history by becoming the first Republican to be re-elected in North Carolina. As of , this is the only time that a Republican was re-elected to a second term as Governor of North Carolina. This also marks the last occasion that the following counties have voted Republican in a gubernatorial election: Buncombe, Guilford, and Wilson. Primary election results General election results Footnotes North Carolina 1988 Lieutenant