The political day in Raleigh Thursday was dominated by news and speculation surrounding the gubernatorial campaign of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who addressed the issue of a potential withdrawal from the race in a defiant video release on the social media platform X.

“We are staying in this race. We are in it to win it,” Robinson said in the video, which was released mid-afternoon. “And we know that with your help, we will.”

Robinson tells viewers that they have already seen “half-truths and outright lies” in campaign advertisements attacking him and that now CNN is releasing a story based on what he calls a leak by the campaign of his opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein. 

Robinson dismisses the CNN story as “salacious tabloid trash” and compares himself to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who he said was also the victim of a “high-tech lynching.”

On the campaign trail, Robinson has long encouraged voters to ignore attack ads and negative media reports about him.

”Let me reassure you the things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” Robinson said. “You know my words, you know my character and you know that I have been completely transparent in this race and before.” 

By 9 p.m., Robinson’s video had garnered more than 3 million views. 

Unknowable at this point, however, is how many views the allegations contained in the CNN story garnered as it appeared on news sites and social media platforms around the country. Many headlines featured the allegation that Robinson had referred to himself on a porn web site as a “Black Nazi.”

Stories early in the day based on anonymous sources said Robinson was getting pressure to withdraw from the race by people associated with the campaign of former President Donald Trump. 

Robinson spokesman Michael Lonergan called that false. “You can quote me directly on this: That is complete fiction.”

FULL REPORTING

CNN Report: (Gary Robertson, The Associated Press, 9/19/24) The CNN report describes a series of racial and sexual comments Robinson posted on the message board of a pornography website more than a decade ago. CNN reported that Robinson, who would be North Carolina’s first Black governor, attacked civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in searing terms and once referred to himself as a “black NAZI.”

CNN also reported that Robinson wrote of being aroused by a memory of “peeping” women in gym showers when he was 14 along with an appreciation of transgender pornography. Robinson at one point referred to himself as a “perv,” according to CNN.

The Associated Press has not independently confirmed that Robinson wrote and posted the messages. CNN said it matched details of the account on the pornographic website forum to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, a known email address and his full name.

CNN reported that details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s age, length of marriage and other biographical information. It also compared figures of speech that came up frequently in his public Twitter profile that appeared in discussions by the account on the pornographic website.

Trump Campaign: (Gary Robertson, The Associated Press, 9/19/24) Trump’s campaign appears to be distancing itself from Robinson in the wake of the report. In a statement to the AP, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the GOP nominee’s campaign “is focused on winning the White House and saving this country,” calling North Carolina “a vital part of that plan.” Leavitt went on to contrast Trump’s economic record with that of Harris, not mentioning Robinson by name or answering questions as to whether he would appear with Trump at a Saturday campaign rally in Wilmington, or had been invited to do so. 

State law says a gubernatorial nominee could withdraw as a candidate no later than the day before the first absentee ballots requested by military and overseas voters are distributed. That begins Friday, so the withdrawal deadline would be late Thursday. State Republican leaders could then pick a replacement.

Republican Response (Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, The News & Observer, 9/19/24; Gary Robertson, The Associated Press, 9/19/24) A top-ranking North Carolina Republican says the news of the latest scandal involving Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, is “not a shock to me.” North Carolina’s Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell said “it seems like anyone who’s ever come in contact with (Robinson) has been fleeced. And this is just the latest example of the taxpayers and the donors getting fleeced.” Folwell, a longtime elected official who also served in the General Assembly, ran unsuccessfully against Robinson in the Republican gubernatorial primary. “His consultants, who have made hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars off him, are laughing all the way to the bank,” Folwell said in an interview Thursday with The News & Observer.

The CNN report is “concerning,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina member of Congress who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement sent by a spokesperson for the NRCC. “The allegations involving Lt. Gov. Robinson in this new report are concerning. I am hoping Mark can reassure North Carolinians that each of these specific allegations are not true,” Hudson said. Similarly, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Budd said in a statement through a spokesperson: “The comments reported in the article are disgusting. Mark Robinson says they are not from him. He needs to prove that to the voters.” 

The North Carolina Republican Party defended Robinson in a statement on X, saying that despite his denial of CNN’s report, it wouldn’t “stop the Left from trying to demonize him via personal attacks.” The party referred to economic and immigration policies as the predominant election issues North Carolinians will care more about instead.

“The Left needs this election to be a personality contest, not a policy contest because if voters focused on policy, Republicans win on Election Day,” the party said.

Ed Broyhill, a North Carolina member of the Republican National Committee, said he spoke to Robinson Thursday afternoon and still supports him as the nominee. In an interview, Broyhill suggested the online details may have been fabricated.

“It seems like a dirty trick to me,” Broyhill said.

Folwell recalled Robinson saying in a speech “that anybody who criticizes him, God’s going to come down on a white horse and exercise His vengeance.” “I guess there’s going to be a lot of white horses,” Folwell said. As treasurer, Folwell serves on the 10-member Council of State with Robinson and other statewide elected officials.

Folwell said that when it comes to dropping out of the race for governor, the only people who can make that decision are Robinson, former President Donald Trump and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who previously led the NC Republican Party, because “they’re the ones that selected him to start with.” Trump has endorsed Robinson, and brought him on stage with him briefly during a campaign rally in Asheboro in August. However, Robinson was not at a rally this week with Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate.

Scott Lassiter, a Republican candidate for state Senate, is calling for Robinson to end his campaign and let another Republican take his place. Lassiter said that “no one should feel obligated to support a candidate solely due to party affiliation,” and called for Robinson to step aside. Robinson said even before the CNN report came out that he will not leave the race, and denies the allegations.

Democratic Response: (Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, The News & Observer, 9/19/24) Robinson’s opponent in the governor’s race is Attorney General Josh Stein. “North Carolinians already know Mark Robinson is completely unfit to be Governor. Josh remains focused on winning this campaign so that together we can build a safer, stronger North Carolina for everyone,” Stein’s campaign said in a statement. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, at an event-naming ceremony for the Lenovo Center, was asked about Robinson ahead of the CNN story publishing. “So there is something special that has happened? I think every day could be a reason for him to have dropped out of the race. You know, he’s the wrong choice for North Carolina,” Cooper told reporters. 

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, who is running for attorney general against Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, sent out a news release about the CNN story with photos of Bishop and Robinson together, asking if Bishop regrets his endorsement of Robinson. “Is he still “proud” to give Robinson his support? … Or are Robinson’s comments on Nazis and slavery a bridge too far, even after all the other controversy?” Jackson wrote. Other Democrats were already sending out fundraising emails off the Robinson news, including Democratic state House candidate Nicole Sidman, who is running against Republican N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham. 

Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Izzi Levy called it “just the latest proof that Mark Robinson is unhinged, dangerous, and completely unfit to be governor.” Avi Bajpai and Chip Alexander contributed to this story. 

Republicans for Stein: (Clifton Dowell, State Affairs Pro, 9/24/24) Calling GOP candidate Mark Robinson a fringe candidate who would be bad for North Carolina, a group of Republicans on Thursday announced their support for Democrat Josh Stein to be the next governor.

Introduced at a news conference organized by the Stein campaign, the group — termed “Republicans for Stein” — included former North Carolina state Sen. Richard Stevens, Winston-Salem attorney David Daggett, and consultant and businesswoman Parker Wilson. 

In a news release, the campaign said more than 50 North Carolinians had signed on so far, including former state Sen. Jim Davis and former state Reps. Chuck Neely, Charles “Chuck” McGrady, David Guice and Will Neumann.

A spokesman for the Robinson campaign declined to comment on the news conference.

Wilson said that Robinson’s views on women were objectionable and that the state would suffer in terms of business recruitment with him at the helm. 

“I’m both a woman and a business leader, and Mark Robinson is bad for both,” she said. “He holds no regard for women, whether we carry the title of CEO or sexual assault survivor. In his narrow view, none of us were called to lead or warrant sharing our story.” 

Daggett said as a friend of Stein’s father — civil rights attorney Adam Stein — he had watched the younger Stein grow into a decent person. 

“I’m a longtime Republican,” Daggett said. “I believe in character, honor, decency, respect and care for all people. Mark Robinson does not represent those values.”

While Robinson — like GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump — were described as a “fringe” candidate, 

Wilson and Stevens said it is difficult to dismiss candidates such as Robinson and GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump as “one-offs,” given the makeup of the current Republican Party. 

“I’m not sure how much longer I can call myself a Republican,” Stevens said. 

Legislative Office: (Clifton Dowell, State Affairs Pro, 9/24/24) The lieutenant governor no longer has offices in the 2100 quadrant of the Legislative Building after being asked to give up the space several weeks ago. Robinson rarely appeared to preside over the Senate this year, but with fewer than 10 potential session days scheduled, the impact will fall mainly on future lieutenant governors. 

The official office of the lieutenant governor is located in the Hawkins-Hartness House on Blount Street, near the Legislative Building. Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger, said the decision resulted from a review of space allocations at the legislative complex.

“As part of the preparations for the next biennium, Senate leadership is evaluating the space allocations in both the Legislative Building and the Legislative Office Building,” she said in a statement. “Since the Lt. Governor has a formal office within walking distance of the legislature, it was determined that his designated space in the Legislative Building could be converted to a meeting space for legislators. The Lt. Governor’s staff was notified weeks ago and did not raise any concerns about the space being repurposed.”

Robinson’s staff moved out of the Legislative Building last week, Horsch said.

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For questions or comments, or to pass along story ideas, please write to Clifton Dowell at [email protected] or @StateAffairsNC on X.

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