RALEIGH – Mark Robinson, Republican candidate for North Carolina’s next governor, is staying in the race despite a Sept. 19 CNN story about alleged lewd and racially charged comments he made online several years ago.
Robinson announced in a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the article was false, and he is staying in the race.
“Let me reassure you, the things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson. You know my words; you know my character, and you know that I have been completely transparent in this race and before.”
The deadline for a candidate to withdraw in North Carolina was 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 19, the day before mail-in absentee ballots were scheduled to be distributed to military and overseas voters, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
The North Carolina Board of Elections said as of Sept. 20, they have not received any communication indicating that Robinson intends to depart the race.
Robinson, a conservative known for his extreme, far-right views, blamed his competitor in the race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, for spreading lies.
“Our opponents are desperate to shift the focus here from the substantive issues and focus on what you are concerned with to salacious tabloid trash,” Robinson said in the video.
The North Carolina GOP is standing behind Robinson, as outlined in a press release posted to X, which reads:
“Mark Robinson has categorically denied the allegations made by CNN but that won’t stop the Left from trying to demonize him via personal attacks. The Left needs this election to be a personality contest because if voters are focused on policy, Republicans win on Election Day.”
Mark Robinson under scrutiny: CNN story claims NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson called himself ‘black NAZI,’ condoned slavery
JD Vance also responded on X, side-stepping the news at hand.
“My comment on Mark Robinson is that Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote on the Inflation Explosion Act and because of that a lot of Americans can’t afford groceries.”
When asked by USA TODAY, Trump aides repeatedly declined to say whether Robinson would withdraw from the race, or whether Trump would ask him to.
Before the CNN report published, Robinson’s competitor Stein had a lead in the race, according to several polls. Donald Trump, who has endorsed Robinson, needs North Carolina — a battleground state — to secure the election, his running mate told NBC News.
The CNN article outlined alleged comments made my Robinson, under the internet username “minisoldr,” which they connected to him, about being a “perv,” staring into a woman’s gym shower room, liking transgender porn, calling himself a “black NAZI!” and condoning slavery, among other things. The alleged comments were made before Robinson’s entrance into the political sphere, and he denied them when interviewed by CNN, the article states.
Mike Lonergan, a spokesperson for the Robinson campaign, called the sources, who were not named, in a Carolina Journal story saying Robinson was encouraged to drop out “complete fiction,” in a text message response Sept. 19 to the Wilmington StarNews and Asheville Citizen Times.
Some GOP members not backing Robinson
But there is concern among some N.C. Republicans about Robinson staying in the race for governor. Wake County Republican candidate for North Carolina Senate, Scott Lassiter, called for Robinson to step down in a statement posted on X. And Dale Folwell, one of Robinson’s primary competitors who never supported his candidacy, said the allegations are “disgusting.”
“He’s been the most AWOL public servant of my lifetime,” said Folwell, who is N.C. State Treasurer.
“The Republican Party that I joined nearly 50 years ago … was based on common sense and courtesy, humility, humanity and ethics, and he has none of those, which means that he is and always has been a counterfeit conservative,” Folwell said.
Asheville-area candidates weighed in on the controversy. Ruth Smith, Republican candidate for North Carolina House seat District 115, said she needs to time to decide if the CNN article impacts whether she will support Robinson.
“I was disappointed to see the story. Those aren’t the values that I have,” said Smith, a personal injury lawyer from Buncombe County.
She added that questions should be directed to Robinson, and that her focus is on her campaign. She doesn’t foresee the news around Robinson will negatively impact her race because people vote for the candidate.
“I have a very good track record in helping people in Western North Carolina,” Smith said, like representing injured workers and domestic violence victims.
More: North Carolina State House of Representatives District 115
Rep. Lindsey Prather, who is running for re-election against Smith, said her opponent needs to speak up about the issue.
“It is past time for Ruth Smith to come clean about her party’s support for Mark Robinson amid this disturbing news. Robinson says women get abortions because they aren’t responsible enough to keep their skirts down, that ‘some folks need killing,’ and has even denied the Holocaust,” Prather wrote in a Sept. 20 email statement.
“Smith has remained silent while Robinson has called himself a ‘Black Nazi.’ People in Buncombe County deserve responsible and respectful leadership that will deliver on things that matter – fully funding our schools, lowering costs for families, and restoring reproductive rights … If there’s ever been a time for Smith to explain her party’s support for this man, it’s now.”
More: Walz doubles down on Trump’s ‘vulnerability’ in winning North Carolina: Mark Robinson
More: Lt. Gov. Robinson stumps in Asheville for Trump; says he’s victim of ‘gov’t weaponization’
Sarah Gleason is the NC Elections Fellow in Raleigh for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
Buncombe County Watchdog Reporter Jacob Biba’s reporting contributed to this story.
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Publish date : 2024-09-20 07:20:00
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