The controversial North Carolina Republican gubernatorial hopeful, Mark Robinson, who is Black, drew fresh scrutiny after CNN published a set of messages from about ten years ago on a porn-site forum. In those messages, Robinson described himself in terms some found extreme and expressed support for restoring slavery in the United States. The disclosures came to light this week, according to CNN reporting, and have become a flashpoint in a state that holds significant sway over national elections.
Following CNN’s findings, Robinson rejected being the author of those messages and said he would remain in the North Carolina race, a contest that many see as crucial in the broader national political landscape, with the election on November 5 approaching rapidly.
CNN compiled a collection of messages allegedly written by Robinson between 2008 and 2012, before he entered public life and long before serving as North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, on a porn site that hosted a discussion forum. Many of the remarks were sexual in nature, but some included self-comparisons as a black Nazi and calls for the restoration of slavery. Robinson has publicly opposed rights for transgender people and indicated in that forum that he took interest in pornographic material featuring transgender women. CNN notes that Robinson used the same username and email across other platforms and social networks.
The Republican candidate and current lieutenant governor released a preemptive response with a video denying the allegations and asserting that he will continue in the governor’s race. He stated that the material seen in the article does not reflect his words or beliefs, aiming to reassure supporters and voters as the controversy unfolds.
Robinson has long sparked controversy for statements that critics label provocative, and he has drawn the backing of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly praised him in the past. Trump has described Robinson with a provocative, quirky nickname tied to perceived strength, underscoring the depth of the alliance between the two figures in this period of political maneuvering.
North Carolina’s race stands out as one of the most closely watched in the country. Robinson faces Democrat Josh Stein, the state’s current attorney general, in a contest that many observers view as pivotal for how campaigns may unfold in the state. North Carolina also plays a significant role in national politics, with discussions about whether the state can tilt in different directions in upcoming national elections as leaders at the national level weigh their strategies and priorities. The unfolding narrative has intensified scrutiny of past online activity and its potential impact on political trajectories in the region.