Title: North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Secures Republican Nomination for Governor, Setting the Stage for a Controversial General Election Campaign
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has emerged as the winner of the Republican primary election for governor, according to projections made by various political analysts and news outlets. His victory sets the stage for an intense general election campaign in the crucial 2024 battleground state of North Carolina, which could mirror the anticipated presidential matchup between the two major parties.
Robinson defeated his two primary opponents to secure the Republican nomination and is now expected to face North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who is expected to win the Democratic nomination. Stein has been a vocal advocate for progressive causes such as LGBTQ and abortion rights, more restrictions on guns, and more robust social spending – issues that contrast sharply with Robinson’s conservative stance.
Robinson has served as North Carolina’s second-ranking executive since 2021, working under (and in opposition to) term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. With the endorsement of former President Donald Trump on the eve of the primary, Robinson is poised to slide comfortably onto a ticket with him in November.
Robinson is known for his strong support of gun rights and efforts to ban abortion, as well as accusations of dabbling in antisemitic, misogynist, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, Robinson addressed the controversy surrounding his statements:
“Whenever they mention my name, they always mention my name in conjunction with social issues and how I hate everybody. According to them, I hate everybody. I hate people who walk and talk and walk upright. I hate people who drive cars. I don’t hate anybody.”
Despite Democratic calls for him to resign following his controversial remarks, Robinson doubled down on his stance and continued to use provocative language in Website social media integration posts. For instance, he downplayed the atrocities of Nazi Germany and argued that socialism was a greater concern than contact fascism:
“We often speak of the ‘appeasement’ of Hitler. But the biggest ‘appeasement’ of ALL TIME is how we turned a blind eye to the clear and present danger of MARXISM.”
In Stein, Robinson will face an opponent who shares some similarities with President Joe Biden on key issues. Both Democrats have expressed support for LGBTQ and abortion rights, more restrictions on guns, and more robust social spending.
With Trump’s official endorsement of Robinson over the weekend, the North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton issued a statement previewing the campaign to come:
“It’s no surprise that the Lieutenant Governor, who seeks a total ban on abortion with no exceptions would receive the endorsement of Donald Trump, who brags about appointing the justices that overturned Roe v. Wade.”
Robinson’s office has confirmed that he supports so-called heartbeat bans, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. The upcoming general election campaign promises to be a heated and contentious performance between two candidates with vastly different ideologies and approaches to governance, reflecting the deeply divided political landscape of North Carolina and the United States as a whole.
