North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is facing increasing pressure to withdraw from the gubernatorial race amid allegations of past racist and sexually explicit online comments. His campaign announced that Robinson was hospitalized with second-degree burns after an incident during a campaign event at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
Campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan reported that the 56-year-old Robinson was in “good spirits” following treatment at Northern Regional Hospital and is expected to resume campaigning soon. However, no additional information regarding the circumstances of his injuries has been disclosed.
The situation has escalated since a recent CNN report revealed that Robinson had made inappropriate posts on a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012, often using the pseudonym “black NAZI.” This revelation has led to the resignation of several key campaign staff members, including his campaign manager and senior adviser, and has resulted in diminishing support from Republican leaders.
Notably, Robinson did not join former President Donald Trump at recent rallies in North Carolina, and when asked if he would reconsider his endorsement of Robinson, Trump stated he was unaware of the details surrounding the situation. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed relief that there is no Senate race in North Carolina amid these developments.
Despite the controversy and mounting calls for him to step down, Robinson remains committed to his campaign, asserting that the election should focus on policies rather than personal attacks.