Republicans Face Political Tremors in Crucial North Carolina as Scandal Engulfs Governor Candidate
Controversy surrounding North Carolina’s Republican candidate for governor has sent shockwaves through the GOP, as the state—considered pivotal for Donald Trump’s re-election bid—finds itself embroiled in political drama. The scandal, centering on Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, is sparking conversations among conservatives, with opinions ranging from defiance to disappointment.
At a routine meeting of the Johnston County Republican Women’s Committee, the group was preparing for a standard agenda when the news broke. Across North Carolina, both Republicans and Democrats had been anticipating a major exposé about Robinson, who is campaigning to become the state’s first Black governor. The allegations, first reported by CNN, claim that over a decade ago, Robinson referred to himself as a “black Nazi” on an adult website. Robinson, a self-identified evangelical Christian, has denied the claims, calling them “tabloid lies.” The BBC has not independently verified CNN’s report.
Despite the explosive nature of the allegations, the response from the Republican women’s group was surprisingly subdued. “If it’s true, that’s something for him and his wife to handle. It’s personal,” said 52-year-old Adele Walker. Far from distancing themselves, the group instead resolved to increase their support, committing to donate even more to Robinson’s campaign.
Walker’s loyalty reflects the opinions of many conservatives in the state, which is closely watched as a key battleground for the upcoming election. North Carolina, long a Republican stronghold, could prove decisive in the 2024 race, with the state’s outcome potentially determining whether Trump secures a return to the White House.
Trump himself has been a vocal supporter of Robinson, once likening him to “Martin Luther King on steroids.” However, Robinson has been no stranger to controversy even before the latest CNN report. He has faced criticism for past comments on issues ranging from abortion to LGBTQ+ rights, including a 2019 video in which he urged women to be “responsible enough to keep your skirt down,” and a 2021 speech where he referred to lessons on transgender and homosexual issues in schools as “filth.”
“At this point, the Robinson campaign is turning into a disaster,” said Steven Greene, a political science professor at North Carolina State University. Greene noted that Robinson’s growing list of controversies could alienate Republican voters and energize Democrats, potentially flipping a state that has been “stubbornly Republican” for decades. Since 1976, only Barack Obama has managed to win North Carolina as a Democrat, and he did so just once, in 2008.
Still, Republicans remain concerned. Scott Lassiter, a GOP candidate for the North Carolina state senate, expressed frustration that Robinson didn’t withdraw from the race before the deadline, which would have allowed the party to field another candidate. “He’s a liability for us. The Democrats will make every race about him,” Lassiter remarked.
Despite the turmoil, Robinson’s allies remain steadfast. Chris Meadows, chairman of the Republican Party in Guilford County, where Robinson hails from, voiced his continued support, dismissing the allegations as unverified. “Until he admits anything, I’m not buying into it,” Meadows said, citing what he believes to be CNN’s questionable credibility.
Robinson, who has frequently appeared at Trump rallies, is reportedly not attending the former president’s upcoming event in Wilmington, raising eyebrows about the future of his campaign.
With North Carolina’s political fate hanging in the balance, voter turnout could be critical. Even small shifts in the electorate’s mood might make a difference in a state where Trump won by just 75,000 votes in 2020. Some voters, like 66-year-old Evelyn Costelloe, say Robinson’s comments have pushed them further toward the Democratic camp. “It’s not just the accusations, but the things he’s said. That’s enough to make me vote,” she shared.
For now, North Carolina remains in political limbo, a deeply divided state caught between red and blue, with both sides fighting hard to claim it.
