Mark Robinson Loses Gubernatorial Race in North Carolina
RALEIGH, North Carolina — In a decisive outcome, Republican candidate Mark Robinson lost his bid for governor to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein on Tuesday. As the early results came in, Stein was leading Robinson by almost 30 points, prompting major news outlets to call the race in favor of the Democrat long before the final votes were tallied.
A Controversial Campaign
Robinson, who was notably endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has a history of inflammatory comments that have come to define his political image. His remarks have included attacks on various groups, including Jews, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, and even strong negative statements about abortion, which he labeled as “genocide.” He also faced backlash for calling survivors of the devastating Parkland school shooting “spoiled.”
The controversial candidate had a particularly alarming history of statements made online. Reports revealed he had engaged in lewd discussions on a pornography message board, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI” and made shocking statements about Martin Luther King Jr., calling him “worse than a maggot.” Comments of this nature not only raised eyebrows but also prompted strong condemnation from various community leaders and activists.
Trump’s Support and Subsequent Withdrawal
Initially, Trump was a vocal supporter of Robinson, even referring to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids” during a rally. However, the former president’s support seemed to wane following various reports on Robinson’s chaotic comments. After the revelations about Robinson’s behavior on the adult site came to light, Trump expressed his concerns about the candidate’s mental state and distanced himself from him, claiming he was “not familiar with the state of the race right now.”
Backlash and Denial
In response to the uproar, Robinson has denied making these offensive comments, asserting that such sentiments do not reflect his character. He even took legal action against reports alleging his involvement in the vulgar commentary made online. Despite his denials, public opinion heavily leaned against him due to his past words, with many calling his statements deeply troubling for the state and the nation.
Robinson’s Political Beginnings
Robinson first gained public attention in 2018 following remarks he made in support of gun rights, especially during the wake of the Parkland shooting. He suggested that laws would not deter criminals from holding guns, indicating a belief that responsible citizens, like himself, would be at risk.
His comments about the young survivors of the shooting depicted them as “spoiled, angry, know-it-all children,” igniting outrage and backlash from the public and media alike. This combative approach did not serve him well in the gubernatorial election campaign.
Controversies on Abortion and Other Topics
Robinson has gone on record labeling abortion as “genocide” and making claims about the origins of Planned Parenthood, which he described as linked to witchcraft. Despite the backlash from such statements, he attempted to downplay abortion-related discussions on the campaign trail, fearing it could damage his chances at the polls. Ultimately, this was just one of many significant issues that hindered his campaign.
The impact of Robinson’s lengthy history of bigotry and inflammatory remarks has been significant, leading to widespread disapproval among the electorate, culminating in his loss to Stein in this critical gubernatorial race.
