Dem
51
GOP
49
In terms of presidential elections, North Carolina is reddish purple. Barack Obama carried the state in 2008. Since then, it has gone for Republicans, but not by much. At the state level, it is completely different. Republicans have 30 of the 50 seats in the state Senate and 72 of the 120 in the state House. If they only had the governorship, they could run wild.
In 2024, Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) will be term limited, so the Republicans have a shot at getting the trifecta. Will they be able to get it? Not if Donald Trump has his way. On Saturday, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R-NC) announced his candidacy for the open governor's race at Altamahaw, NC, just outside Elon, NC. Robinson is Black, but also Trumpy as can be. Is this going to be a repeat of Doug Mastriano running for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022? Time will tell.
In addition to his Trumpiness, Robinson is also a full-service bigot. He is antisemitic and has also said that children shouldn't learn about "homosexuality or any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth. And if you don't like it that I called it filth, come see me and I'll explain it to you." He also once said: "I have found that women in general don't like to be outtalked. They love to be able to talk a man into submission. And with me, it never happens. They can't do it." It is not just about "talk" but also about leadership. he once said: "Christians are called to be led by men, not women." He is not always anti-woman though. He complained when the Carolina Panthers hired a transgender cheerleader. He said the position should have gone to a woman. And how about this: "Take the head of your enemy in God's name." After all, Jesus was an incredible swordsman and he often decapitated his enemies with a single blow of his mighty sword. There's tons more. Robinson is an oppo researcher's dream candidate.
Does North Carolina want a raving, Trumpy bigot as governor? We don't know but we do know that after former governor Pat McCrory signed the infamous "bathroom bill," he was defeated for reelection by Cooper in 2016. Robinson is way further to the right than McCrory and winning an open seat is a lot harder than being reelected. Republicans are worried. And if Trump comes out and endorses and campaigns for Robinson, they will worry even more. Here is the happy couple.
Robinson is popular enough with the Trump base. Even the revelation that his wife had an abortion years ago hasn't derailed him. However, many North Carolina Republicans are worried that he is too radical for the state and will go down in flames, like Mastriano and Kari Lake in Arizona. They are hoping that former congressman Mark Walker jumps in and beats Robinson in the GOP primary.
The Democrats are not likely to have a primary. North Carolina AG Josh Stein appears to have a lock on the Democratic nomination. This could lead to a minor variant of the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race of 2022: A Jewish state AG named Josh S. against a bats**t crazy Trumper. It should be interesting. (V)