Stein defeats Robinson in race for governor, talks about ‘promise of North Carolina’
Democrat Josh Stein will be the next governor of North Carolina. The Associated Press called the race for Stein ahead of Stein’s victory speech and the concession speech of Republican nominee Mark Robinson.
Stein’s victory speech praised the state and North Carolinians, saying that “we are home to the best people. As we celebrate tonight, our hearts are with the folks of Western North Carolina who are still struggling. Hurricane Helene swept in devastation, destruction and darkness, but the goodness of North Carolinians shone through. Neighbors helping neighbors, people dropping everything to lend a hand. And by the way, none of those folks cared whether the person they were helping was a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent.”
“They just showed up because that’s who we are as North Carolinians, and we will show up for the people of Western North Carolina to help them rebuild safer and stronger than ever before,” he said.
Stein talked about what he also described on the campaign trail as “the promise of North Carolina. That where you come from should never limit how far you can go. That our kids and grandkids should enjoy a better and brighter future than we’ve had. That every North Carolinian should have a fair shot at success starting a small business or getting a good paying job everywhere in this state, including small town North Carolina.”
He also talked about investing in people and their future to build “a safer, stronger North Carolina, where the economy continues to grow and works for everyone; where our public schools are excellent and our teachers are well paid; where our neighborhoods are safe and women can make their own decisions about their own bodies.”
Stein said the state has “big challenges ahead” but dreams to realize include cutting taxes and paying “teachers what they deserve.”
President Joe Biden called Stein to congratulate him around 9 p.m., according to a White House pool report.
Robinson gave his concession speech a few blocks away ahead of Stein’s speech, acknowledging his defeat at a supporters rally in downtown Raleigh.
Robinson, who is lieutenant governor said, “It was not to be, it appears.”
“At the beginning of the year,” when he leaves office, “I’m going to spend some time with my grandchildren,” Robinson said.
At Stein’s election night party, NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton — the youngest person to hold the position — thanked the candidates, donors and organizers, especially young supporters.
“We took nothing for granted this year as a party and we made this possible because you all believed in a better South, in a new South for North Carolina,” Clayton said.
North Carolina voters were choosing their first new governor in eight years, as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is leaving office after two consecutive terms, as the state constitution requires.
Cooper introduced Stein, after following Clayton and a performance by the Shaw University marching band at the Marriott City Center.
Cooper thanked his wife, Kristin Cooper, and said, “I‘m so grateful for her love and her partnership and service to the people of our state. We’ve had a great run. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We also hold next to our hearts the people of Western North Carolina, we’re going to work hard to make sure they recover.”
Cooper and Stein spoke before the presidential election was called.
“We know everybody’s watching closely the rest of the results, because we know our country must make the right choice, and we have important elections across the state, but we need to take a moment right now. ... We have done something important here with this victory in the governor’s race,” Cooper said.
Cooper said the state chose progress, experience, reproductive freedom for women and support for public schools by electing Stein, whom he called “an amazing public servant and attorney general. And now it’s time for his new job.”
A contrast in candidates
The candidates were very different, and each could have made history: Stein will be the state’s first Jewish governor, and Robinson would have been the state’s first Black governor. Stein has led Robinson in polls and fundraising for months.
Stein is in his second term as attorney general after serving previously in the state Senate, and before that working for now Gov. Roy Cooper, when Cooper was attorney general. A Stein administration could be similar to Cooper’s, as they are longtime friends and Stein considers Cooper a mentor.
Stein grew up mostly in Chapel Hill and has spent his career as an attorney, just like his father. He told The News & Observer in a recent interview that he “knew I wanted to do something about trying to make things fairer for more people.”
Stein refused to debate Robinson, saying that he didn’t want to give him a “platform.”
Robinson’s first and only term as lieutenant governor has also been his first time in elected office. He rose to fame on social media and because of a viral pro-gun rights speech made at a Greensboro City Council meeting, where he’s from. He spoke at the Republican National Convention this past summer and talked about his rise to office after growing up in poverty and an abusive household, which he also talked about in his “We Are the Majority!” memoir. He has spent most of his career working in furniture factories. Robinson has also faced a series of financial problems, including bankruptcies, before taking office.
Robinson has also been known for a series of insulting comments about a variety of people, from school shooting survivors to teachers to LGBTQ+ people. In 2023, he said he’s never been antisemitic despite a history of antisemitic comments, most of which were made online. As lieutenant governor, he joined legislative Republicans in crafting legislation that ban ideas like Critical Race Theory from public schools.
A major campaign issue has been abortion, with Robinson’s comments ranging from saying in an advertisement he’ll “stand by” the Republican-written law that bans abortion after 12 weeks with exceptions, to saying he’d want a total ban. Stein has used Robinson’s own words in attack ads, including a video of Robinson saying women should “keep your skirt down.”
In the most recent campaign finance reporting period this fall, Stein has outraised Robinson by 11 times.
September campaign shifts
And that was all before the September surprise report from CNN KFile that tied Robinson to a series of extreme posts on a pornographic website, which Robinson denies he wrote. The alleged posts made a decade ago included sexuality explicit comments about watching transgender porn, peeping in a women’s locker room as a teenager, racist comments about Martin Luther King Jr., and calling himself a “Black NAZI.”
In the days following the report, nearly all of Robinson’s campaign staff resigned, as well as half his lieutenant governor office staff, including his chief of staff. A source familiar with the campaign departures said the resignations came when Robinson turned down legal and information technology offers to help clear his name. Weeks later, Robinson filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN. In the final weeks of the campaign, Robinson’s most famous supporter, former President Donald Trump, distanced himself from Robinson and Robinson did not attend any of the many subsequent Trump and running mate JD Vance rallies in North Carolina.
Other Republicans stood by their endorsements of Robinson, including Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.
Robinson focused on nearly daily campaign stops across the state to take his case directly to voters, as well as helping with a local sheriff’s office Helene disaster response, while criticizing the federal and statewide response. As a member of the Council of State, Robinson skipped one vote on Helene response but has voted for the others.
Stein campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris, taking the stage in Raleigh last week to talk about his vision of “hope over hate,” referencing both Robinson and Trump.
Despite Trump distancing himself from Robinson, Robinson continued to run as a Make America Great Again candidate, saying at appearances that he wants to be elected for policy, not “personality.”
Both candidates were out on the campaign trail on Election Day, greeting voters at the polls. Both will also hold campaign watch parties Tuesday night in downtown Raleigh. The third party candidates are Libertarian Mike Ross, Vinny Smith of the Constitution Party and Michael Wayne Turner of the Green Party.
Stein led Robinson in several polls by double digits since late September.
Robinson, Stein watch parties
Jim and Judy Newman, who volunteered for the Stein and incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Marshall campaigns, were among hundreds who attended the N.C. Democratic Party event after polls closed on Tuesday.
”We’re here for the excitement,” Judy Newman said. They have supported the Stein campaign since they first heard about it, Jim Newman said.
”I really view it as a positive thing, voting for Josh Stein and Elaine Marshall — she’s great,” Jim Newman said. “We’re lucky to have her for 28 years.”
Around 6 p.m., 90 minutes before polls, closed, Robinson campaign strategist Matt Hurley fielded questions from media gathered in downtown Raleigh at the campaign’s watch party at Raleigh City Club.
”The lieutenant governor is a very reasonable guy. He’s prepared to accept tonight’s results no matter what direction they go in,” Hurley said.
Robinson addressed his supporters for around seven minutes, saying, “I will not shed tears tonight. Remember, victory is pleasing God.
“People of faith know it’s going to go the right way. We read the back of the book. We know how this all comes to an end. Those who would promote evil, promote wrongdoing, and call it right, they do not win. They may prosper for a season. But in the end, we win. So I’m standing here now, and I’m not sad one lick.”
Debbie Earp, retired executive assistant from Raleigh, told The News & Observer that Robinson’s watch party was her first watch party ever.
“He may sound a little rough around the edges sometimes, a little rough when he speaks, but just to let you know, that’s passion. That’s not being authoritative. That’s passion. He believes in what he’s doing. And I believe that God is behind him. And that’s why I’m here,” Earp said.
Robinson supporters emphasized the importance of supporting him, no matter the results of tonight.
”I think it’s an amazing narrative. Whatever you think of politics, you have to respect his story. It shows in America, irrespective of your education level, your caste, you can achieve anything,” Amar Pat Singh, an attorney from Smithfield, told The N&O.
Orlando Guzman, retired military service member from Apex, said he volunteered for Robinson, “and I want to be here for him. There are many times where people, they like to support someone but other actions don’t match what they’re saying. I say that I want to support the guy, Mr. Robinson, and I did, and here tonight, I think that if he wins or not, to me, doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m here for him.”
In Stein’s speech, he said people “must reject the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground. We will go further when we go together, not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as independents, but as North Carolinians.”
Stein also said that if he didn’t earn someone’s vote in this election, “I hope to earn your trust by working hard for you as your governor. I hope to listen and work across party lines to do what’s right for North Carolina, because no person or party has a monopoly on good ideas.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Stein defeats Robinson in race for governor, talks about ‘promise of North Carolina’."
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