North Carolina Governor Candidates
The highest seat in the Tar Heel State is up for grabs as current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is finishing his second term. Democrat and current Attorney General Josh Stein is a lawyer and politician and Republican Mark Robinson, current lieutenant governor, is a fiery candidate with a background in manufacturing. The race has garnered national attention for its importance and for the controversial rhetoric that has surrounded Robinson’s campaign.
Democrat Josh SteinAge: 58Previously held offices: North Carolina senator for District 16, senior deputy attorney general for consumer protectionProfession: Serving second term as North Carolina attorney general, lawyer Stances on top issues: Stein is an outspoken supporter of reproductive rights and is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic. He plans to focus on investing more in public education (not in private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship), addressing public safety through closing the police officer shortage gap and making day-to-day life more affordable for North Carolinians. Stein’s education platform also includes supporting technical education and apprenticeship programs, making way for people to find work without less student debt. He also hopes to expand affordable housing and Medicaid.Campaign news: Endorsed by the current Democratic governor, Stein has been fighting against his far-right competitor by calling his policies and rhetoric around the LGBTQ community, among others, extreme. Stein has taken special interest in talking with young voters, visiting universities and community colleges across the state. He has outraised his competitor so far by several million. He has also been seen on the Kamala Harris campaign trail, speaking at her North Carolina events.Age: 56Previously held offices: NoneProfession: Lieutenant governor of North Carolina, previously worked in furniture manufacturing, at his wife’s nonprofit Balanced Nutrition Inc. and he also served in the US Army ReserveStances on top issues: Robinson wants to raise teacher pay but he is also a strong supporter of “school choice” and taxpayer-funded private school vouchers. He believes some public schools are indoctrinating students as seen from his taskforce as lieutenant governor called F.A.C.T.S., which stands for Fairness and Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students. Robinson also stands firm in his gun rights stance, a topic that propelled him into the spotlight after he gave a passionate speech at a Greensboro City Council meeting about Second Amendment rights. His policy plans for abortion access have muddied throughout the campaign. He initially called for a 6-week abortion ban that he later back-stepped on. Most recently, NBC News reported that he hopes to continue restricting abortion if elected. He also wants to lower taxes for North Carolinians, better support veterans and increase public safety.Campaign news: The current lieutenant governor has gained the backing of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Recently, the nonprofit his wife runs, Balanced Nutrition Inc., has come under fire for owing the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services thousands of dollars for failing to comply with several program rules.
Libertarian candidate Mike Ross, Constitution Party candidate Vinny Smith, and Green Party candidate Wayne Turner are also on the ballot for governor.
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Publish date : 2024-09-17 06:01:00
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