A Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, Mark Robinson, has denied making controversial comments attributed to him in a CNN report. The report claimed that Robinson, who was elected as the state’s first black lieutenant governor in 2020, referred to himself as a “black Nazi” on an adult forum over a decade ago.
Robinson, who is backed by former President Donald Trump, is currently in a race that is considered critical as Democrats aim to gain ground in this swing state. Robinson characterized the CNN report as “salacious tabloid lies” and firmly stated he will not withdraw from the race despite calls from some state Republicans for him to do so.
The report alleged that Robinson participated in discussions on an adult website between 2008 and 2012, where he used the username “minisoldr” and made comments about adult content. Robinson rose to notoriety in 2021 after refusing to apologize for labeling discussions about gender and sexuality in schools as “filth.”
As the controversy unfolded, Robinson took to social media to assert his innocence. He described the situation as a “high-tech lynching” orchestrated by his opponent, Josh Stein, the current attorney general of North Carolina. Stein’s campaign responded by emphasizing that Robinson is unfit for the governor’s position, bolstered by polls indicating that Stein has a significant lead.
The North Carolina Republican Party has publicly defended Robinson, suggesting that left-wing critics are attempting to smear him through personal attacks. Demonstrating his commitment to the race, Robinson reaffirmed his intentions, stating, “We are staying in this race. We are in it to win it.”
The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the governor’s race was Thursday night, coinciding with the timeline for mailing out postal ballots, as early voting in North Carolina is set to begin in less than a month. In the broader context, both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris are competing fiercely for support in a state that has leaned Republican in recent elections.