North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is facing scrutiny in his gubernatorial campaign due to past allegations of making racist and sexually explicit remarks online, was hospitalized on Friday following an incident that left him with burns. According to campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan, Robinson, 56, sustained second-degree burns while participating in a campaign event at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mt. Airy, positioned near the North Carolina-Virginia border.
Robinson received treatment at the Northern Regional Hospital in Mt. Airy, where he was reported to be in “good spirits” and is expected to return to campaigning on Saturday morning. Details regarding the nature of the incident or the extent of his injuries were not disclosed.
This incident follows the release of a damaging CNN report last week that revealed Robinson had made inappropriate posts on a pornographic website’s message board between 2008 and 2012, often using the alias “black NAZI.” Since then, several key staff members have resigned from his campaign, including the campaign manager and general consultant, leading to a decline in support from Republican leaders.
Robinson was absent from two recent North Carolina rallies featuring former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee. When asked if he would reconsider his endorsement of Robinson, Trump expressed uncertainty regarding the situation. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that he was pleased there was no Senate race in North Carolina, suggesting that he might not support Robinson’s campaign.
Despite the setbacks, Robinson has remained determined to continue his campaign, emphasizing that the election should focus on policies rather than personal controversies.