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Jimmy Williams
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the state’s gubernatorial race, according to NBC News projections, keeping the governorship in Democrats’ hands. Stein’s win comes after a campaign focused on Robinson’s long history of controversial remarks and Stein’s pledge to invest in education, protect abortion rights, and address the opioid crisis.
Stein will be North Carolina’s first Jewish governor and succeeds Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term-limited. The election drew national attention as a key battleground for both parties, with Stein maintaining a consistent lead against Robinson, whose inflammatory statements on various social issues had already been a focal point for Democratic attacks.
Robinson’s campaign faced a turning point in September after CNN reported on his alleged comments from over a decade ago on a porn website, where he called himself a “black NAZI,” supported slavery, and recounted a voyeuristic memory. Robinson denied making the comments, but the story prompted key staffers to resign, and the Republican Governors Association halted its advertising for him. Former President Donald Trump maintained his endorsement of Robinson but did not join him on the campaign trail following the report.
Stein capitalized on Robinson’s divisive record, highlighting his opponent’s stance on abortion and education. Robinson had called abortion “murder” and “genocide” and argued that it wasn’t about protecting women’s health, but rather “killing the child.” Robinson also described public school teachers as “wicked people” and advised parents not to send their children to public schools.
In contrast, Stein’s campaign centered on proposals to improve K-12 education by addressing staffing shortages and investing in teachers. He also campaigned on his opposition to the state’s 12-week abortion ban and emphasized his work as attorney general, where he tackled the opioid crisis, collaborated on opioid settlement deals, and helped reduce a backlog of untested rape kits.
Stein’s victory marks a significant hold for Democrats in North Carolina, where both parties view the governorship as essential ahead of the 2024 election.
