Josh Stein Archives

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson treated for burns after accidentally touching exhaust pipe

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says he has been treated for burns he suffered when he accidentally touched an exhaust pipe at a truck show while campaigning for governor. The campaign says Robinson was attending the Mayberry Truck Show in Mount Airy on Friday evening when he was injured. A campaign spokesperson says he was treated at Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy for second-degree burns. The campaign pointed to a social media video in which Robinson said Saturday it happened when he was getting out of a truck during a show parade. He is running against Democrat Josh Stein for governor.… Continue Reading

Harris makes scandal-plagued Republican the star of her campaign to win North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — There’s an unlikely star in Kamala Harris’ fight to make history in North Carolina: Mark Robinson, the state’s scandal-plagued candidate for governor. As of this week, Robinson is featured in Harris volunteers’ conversations with voters on the phone and at the doorways. Democrats wave signs bearing his name at their press conferences. Billboard trucks circulate in key cities warning that he is “unhinged.” And Harris is running a statewide advertising campaign highlighting Robinson’s relationship with Donald Trump. No Democrat has carried this Southern state since former President Barack Obama in 2008. But polls now suggest the 2024 contest is razor-thin. Democrats are betting that the weight of Robinson’s baggage can tip the scales in Harris’ favor.… Continue Reading

North Carolina lieutenant governor names new chief aide as staff departures grow

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has quickly named his next chief of staff in his state government office. The move comes as a dozen of his government or gubernatorial campaign workers have quit after a CNN report alleging that he made racial and sexual comments on an online message board. Robinson said Thursday that he had elevated Deputy Chief of Staff Krishana Polite to become his next chief of staff. The current chief of staff confirmed he and three other workers are resigning effective next week. Robinson denies writing the online messages, and his campaign has hired a law firm to investigate.… Continue Reading

Top aide for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is resigning, adding to staff separations

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The top aide to North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson within state government is quitting. A state legislator who knows Brian LiVecchi says Robinson’s chief of staff and general counsel will resign effective next Tuesday. This marks another staff separation from the Republican nominee for governor following a CNN report last week stating he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board. Robinson has denied writing the messages that CNN says were from over a decade ago. Several of his campaign aides have also left their jobs. Robinson has remained optimistic about his electoral chances against Democratic nominee Josh Stein.… Continue Reading

In effort to refute porn-site message report, Mark Robinson campaign hires a law firm

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson says his campaign has hired a law firm to help investigate a CNN report stating he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board — something he denies. Tuesday’s announcement comes as more North Carolina Republicans disturbed by last week’s report said the GOP should shift its focus to competitive in-state races if Robinson can’t formally refute the accusations quickly. The sitting lieutenant governor says the firm will “will leave no stone unturned.” In the fallout from the report, most of Robinson’s top campaign staffers quit and the Republican Governors Association said it will no longer support Robinson.… Continue Reading

Mark Robinson vows to rebuild his staff for North Carolina governor as Republican group backs away

WILKESBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is vowing to rebuild his campaign staff. Several aides have quit, and a Republican group announced Monday it has backed off helping Robinson’s campaign. A CNN report last week alleged the sitting lieutenant governor made racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says that the Republican Governors Association will no longer support Robinson. Robinson has denied writing the messages from more than a decade ago. He told reporters Monday the campaign was getting offers from all over to work for it.… Continue Reading

Several Mark Robinson campaign staffers quit as fallout over online posts continues

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several top aides working on North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have left their posts. That marks more fallout after a CNN report outlining evidence that he made disturbing posts on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago. The departures announced Sunday include the campaign’s senior adviser, campaign manager and finance director. The senior adviser said others also have left their jobs. The announcement came the day after Robinson’s made an appearance at a race track. Former President Donald Trump also held an event elsewhere in the state without Robinson and without mentioning his fellow Republican.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s Robinson, omitted from Trump rally, avoids comment on report about online posts

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has avoided directly weighing in during a gubernatorial campaign event on a CNN report outlining evidence that he made disturbing posts on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago. Robinson’s appearance Saturday at the Fayetteville Motor Speedway happened the same day former President Donald Trump held an event elsewhere in the state without Robinson and without mentioning his fellow Republican. News reports indicate that Robinson didn’t mention the CNN report or answer questions from reporters on hand. He says that while others focus on “garbage” and “trash” meant to “besmirch” people, he is focusing on issues that concern voters.… Continue Reading

Trump appeals to women in return to North Carolina without Mark Robinson, a top in-state supporter

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump has returned to North Carolina to stump in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November. But on Saturday he campaigned in Wilmington without Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Trump has long praised the GOP gubernatorial nominee, but his campaign is now distancing itself following a CNN report about Robinson’s alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board. Robinson has denied writing the posts and says he’s not leaving the race. State Republican officials have stood by Robinson, whose decision to keep campaigning could threaten GOP prospects in other key races, including Trump’s efforts in a battleground state he previously won twice.… Continue Reading

Robinson won’t appear at Trump’s North Carolina rally after report on online posts, AP sources say

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will not appear at former President Donald Trump’s rally in the eastern part of his state after a CNN report about his alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. Robinson has been a frequent presence at Trump’s North Carolina campaign stops. The Republican nominee has referred to Robinson, who is Black, as “Martin Luther King on steroids” and frequently praised him. The absence reinforces the gubernatorial candidate’s potential liability for Trump and downballot GOP candidates in the battleground state.… Continue Reading