Stein defeats scandal-plagued Robinson in North Carolina gubernatorial race

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) will become the next governor of the state, defeating controversial Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), Decision Desk HQ projects.

Stein’s win does not come as a surprise. While polls showed the race as tight through July, Stein started pulling away and increased his lead in the polling average from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ to 15 points.

Robinson, the first Black lieutenant governor of North Carolina, rose to prominence as a conservative firebrand known for making a wide range of inflammatory comments about various groups, including Jews, Muslims, gay and transgender people and Black people who support Democrats.

He called Muslims “invaders” and referred to homosexuality as “filth,” abortion as “genocide” and feminism as being “watered by the devil.”

Robinson was already trailing in the race, but his campaign was rocked by an explosive CNN report in mid-September detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago. He made comments on a range of issues, including race, gender and abortion, CNN reported.

According to CNN, Robinson referred to himself as “black NAZI,” wished for slavery to be reinstated and called Martin Luther King Jr. a “commie bastard.”

Robinson denied the report, but his poll numbers took a dive, and Republicans in the state and nationwide distanced themselves from him.

Most election analysts rated the race as likely Democratic following the report’s fallout.

Stein meanwhile ran a steady campaign without any major mistakes, focusing on issues like affordability, improving public education and protecting abortion rights.

Stein is set to become North Carolina’s first Jewish governor, succeeding term-limited incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper (D).