Mark Robinson, Josh Stein win primaries and head for faceoff in NC governor’s race

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North Carolina will have a new governor in 2025, and voters chose on Tuesday who they want as the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian candidates on the general election ballot this fall.

The front-runners throughout the campaign season were declared the winners by the Associated Press around 8 p.m. Tuesday: Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein.

”A Robinson vs. Stein match-up in the North Carolina gubernatorial election would be perhaps the perfect illustration of American politics at this particular moment,” Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, recently told The News & Observer.

In his victory speech on Tuesday night, Stein vowed as governor to support law enforcement and fight violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, and boasted about his support for Medicaid expansion.

He also brought up abortion rights. “Let me clear about reproductive health care: As governor, I will veto any further restrictions on women’s reproductive freedoms,” he said to enthusiastic cheers.

“When I travel across the state, I see an optimism for North Carolina and its future,” Stein said.

Robinson said in his victory speech Tuesday night at Greensboro’s Koury Convention Center ballroom that he was “able to withstand withering attacks from our opponents, all of which were baseless.”

He told a story familiar by now: he was the ninth of 10 children who grew up in an “extremely poor” home. But his mother chose work, not welfare. ”I’m standing on her shoulders right this moment,” Robinson said. “I stand on the shoulders of my mother and all of those who came before me.”

Robinson said he’ll focus on issues like education and the economy in the general election. He wants a great education system without “agendas,” he said, and a core focus on usual subjects.

Lt. Gov. Robinson wins GOP primary

The Republican Governors Association weighed in quickly after the race was called.

“From investing in safe neighborhoods to driving economic prosperity, Mark Robinson will put the people of North Carolina first,” said RGA Chairman and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in a statement.

“This is in stark contrast from the Democrats’ ideas and agenda that have failed America at the federal level and will fail North Carolina at the state level. The RGA congratulates Mark Robinson on his win and we look forward to supporting him in the general election.”

Former President Donald Trump officially endorsed Robinson over the weekend at a rally in Greensboro, where Robinson is from.

Robinson is North Carolina’s first Black lieutenant governor, winning in 2020 the first time he ran for any office, after gaining national attention for a pro-gun rights speech at a Greensboro City Council meeting. Robinson represents the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, and like Trump, often makes disparaging comments about other people — in Robinson’s case, including transgender people, teachers and school shooting survivors. Robinson has also downplayed previous antisemitic comments.

National issues drew one supporter to Robinson’s election night event, at least in part.

“It’s not necessarily just the state — you have real problems across the country,” said Rick Jessop, who lives in the small town of Oak Ridge, near Greensboro. He’s concerned about immigration and the Second Amendment. He noted the viral video that catapulted Robinson to fame, about gun rights.

“If we want to protect that here in the state, you have to put that protection in,” he said. “Otherwise the feds will just steamroll you.”

Robinson’s primary opponents were State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Salisbury attorney Bill Graham, who have both targeted Robinson’s controversial comments in their own campaigns. Folwell said his campaign is one “of courage, not rage.”

Folwell received the endorsement of SEANC, the State Employees Association of North Carolina, while Graham was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

Folwell congratulated Robinson on his primary win, adding “but for our family, friends, volunteers and donors, these results would not have been possible.”

“I filed for governor to return the Republican Party to a party of conservatism, common sense, courtesy, humility and ethics. That’s the culture we have built at the Treasurer’s Office and that’s how we will finish our remaining months as keeper of the public purse,” Folwell said in a statement on social media. His term as treasurer does not end until Dec. 31.

In a statement Tuesday night, Graham criticized Robinson as well as Republicans who didn’t come to Graham’s aid in the race, saying he is “concerned about the future of North Carolina and our Republican Party.” He said he is “sick and tired of Republicans losing gubernatorial races.”

He went on to call Robinson “an unelectable candidate in the general election in North Carolina, and he puts a conservative future at risk for everyone, from the courthouse to the White House.”

“North Carolina’s conservative future should be one where obstacles are seen as opportunities, division is replaced by dedication to a bright future for our children and grandchildren, and hate is replaced with hope. I’ve always believed that with the right leadership, our best days are ahead of us,” Graham said.

Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, called Robinson “bad for business, bad for families, and bad for North Carolina, and from now through November the DGA will be working hard to make sure North Carolinians reject his extreme and dangerous agenda at the ballot box.”

In Greensboro at Robinson’s party, Jimmy Davis, who lives in Lexington, said he’s known Robinson for years. He’s the same person on and off television, he said.

He’s a fan of Robinson’s FACTS (Fairness and Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students) Task Force, which Robinson started for people to report “indoctrination” in classrooms. While critics have said that the task force has brought the culture war to classrooms, Davis said it’s “parents getting back involved in schools.”

As for Robinson’s likely opponent in the general election? “I think Josh Stein is Roy Cooper 5.0,” Davis said.

Attorney General Stein wins Democratic primary

Stein is finishing his second term as attorney general after serving in the state Senate.

“I am grateful to every North Carolinian who made their voice heard in this election. Tonight, we took the first step toward building a safer, stronger North Carolina,” Stein said in a statement after being declared the winner.

“I’m running for governor because I believe in the promise of North Carolina — that where you come from should never limit how far you can go, that every person deserves a fair shot at prosperity, strong public schools, and a safe place to call home. North Carolina faces a defining choice, and I am confident that this November, we will reject Mark Robinson’s divisive, job-killing culture wars and instead come together to deliver on North Carolina’s promise for every person,” Stein said.

Democrats gathered at Maywood Hall & Garden in Raleigh to watch returns.

Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue of Raleigh voiced his support for Stein, a former intern in Blue’s office.

“I know one thing about Josh Stein, he is sincerely committed and he is determined to continue providing North Carolina with the leadership it deserves,” Blue said.

If Stein wins the general election, he will follow in the footsteps of outgoing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who served as attorney general before becoming governor. Cooper spoke to fellow Democrats Tuesday night before Stein.

“You know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to break the supermajority in the state legislature. We’ve got to elect as many Democrats to the Council of State. We’ve got to keep our seat on the Supreme Court. We’re going to win North Carolina for Joe Biden. And we’ve got to make sure we elect the right person to run for governor,” Cooper told the crowd.

Stein received the endorsements of Cooper and dozens of other Democratic elected officials. Cooper and Stein have been friends for decades, and Stein worked for Cooper when Cooper was attorney general.

Cooper introduced Stein and they shook hands and hugged as Stein took the podium.

Stein said Robinson would scare away businesses, comparing his policies to what North Carolina experienced while House Bill 2 was in effect, which he said cost the state billions of dollars. “We’ve been down this road before,” he said, calling it “a dead end.”

Stein’s main primary competition had been retired N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Mike Morgan, who entered the race in September, about a week after he retired from the bench. Morgan previously served as a district court and superior court judge.

“I want to thank Justice Mike Morgan and the other candidates in this race for their service to the state,” Stein said about his primary opponents.

Three other Democrats running were Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams and Gary Foxx.

Libertarian candidate for NC governor

There are also two Libertarians in the primary. In unofficial results with some precincts uncounted, Mike Ross led Shannon Bray by 19 percentage points.