The race for governor heats up in North Carolina, the battlefield is not only political but deeply cultural. Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate and current Lieutenant Governor, has made national headlines for his incendiary comments against the LGBTQ+ community, antisemitic remarks, and criticism of the Black community, placing himself at the heart of a culture war that’s defining the gubernatorial campaign.
Robinson’s rise from relative obscurity to a national conservative figure was swift, catalyzed by a viral video of a speech he gave in 2018. However, it is his divisive rhetoric that has kept him in the spotlight. His opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein, stands in sharp contrast, running on a platform of inclusiveness and policy issues like the opioid-addiction epidemic and clean drinking water. Stein’s focus is on “tapping the potential of every person” and creating a “thriving economy, safe neighborhoods, [and] strong schools.”
The race is emblematic of a broader political climate where cultural issues are front and center. Robinson, who has openly questioned the Holocaust and referred to gay and transgender people as “filth.” These remarks are likely to resurface repeatedly during the campaign, particularly as Stein, if elected, would become the first Jewish governor of North Carolina.
Cooper, a Democratic moderate, has been a political fixture in North Carolina politics for a generation, and has been able to fend off some of the more radical impulses of Republicans over the years with a combination of veto power and moral suasion.
But while Democrats hold the North Carolina governor’s mansion today, Republicans achieved a veto-proof majority in both legislative chambers in 2022 after Tricia Cotham, the newly elected state representative, switched parties shortly after winning an otherwise safely Democratic seat. Since that political shock, Cooper’s vetoes have been routinely overcome by a Republican supermajority.
Shelly Willingham, a Black state legislator, equated Robinson’s support to that of Trump, saying, “It’s a cult. It’s not necessarily citizens supporting a candidate but following a cult leader.”
Moreover, the potential implications on abortion rights in the state are profound. North Carolina stands as an outlier in the South, where abortion is available beyond six weeks of pregnancy. While Robinson has kept a relatively low profile on the campaign trail, Stein has been proactive, averaging a campaign stop every two days.
Relevant articles:
– The culture war in North Carolina is playing out in the race for governor, theguardian.com, 04/28/2024
– Super Tuesday 2024 Primary Election Live Results: All the Republican and Democratic Races, NBC News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:26:40 GMT