Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s first Black lieutenant governor, has announced his candidacy for governor in the state’s upcoming election. Robinson, a Republican, is positioning himself as a candidate who can relate to the challenges faced by working people. His entry into the race has been anticipated for over a year, with the Greensboro native heavily hinting at a run in speeches and fundraising appeals.
Robinson gained public attention from a viral video of his 2018 anti-gun control speech to the Greensboro City Council about attempts to cancel a local gun show. He has since been known for his conservative views, including opposition to LGBTQ+ activism and support for banning abortion. In his announcement speech, Robinson emphasized his support for Republican tax-cutting policies, as well as for school safety and law enforcement.
Despite Robinson’s popularity among the Republican base and his campaign’s flush coffers, others have questioned whether his aggressive, conservative style and blunt comments about LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, and the role of women make him the party’s best choice to win a general election in a closely divided state. The office of lieutenant governor has long been considered a stepping stone to the governor’s office, but since the late 1960s, only three of them — all Democrats — have made the leap to governor.
Robinson’s controversial views on LGBTQ+ issues have drawn criticism from his opponents, with Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein accusing Robinson of wanting “to tell you who you can marry, when you’ll be pregnant and who you should hate” in his campaign-opening video. Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell has also criticized Robinson, saying that he has spent his time in the political spotlight “attacking people instead of attacking the important problems that our citizens are facing.”
Robinson’s announcement speech, held at Ace Speedway in Alamance County, reinforced his narrative as an anti-establishment candidate looking out for average folks. The speedway had defied Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order in 2020 limiting outdoor crowds to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and the track’s owners are still fighting the Cooper administration in court over its temporary closure.
The North Carolina gubernatorial race is already shaping up to be a contentious one, with several candidates vying to succeed Governor Cooper, who is barred by the state constitution from seeking a third consecutive term. Robinson’s controversial views on LGBTQ+ issues are likely to be a major point of contention in the race.