The News & Observer - Candidate for NC governor, Republican Mark Robinson, answers our questions

Mark has a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Mark and his wife Yolanda have two children and two grandchildren.

Mark previously worked in the furniture manufacturing industry. 

Mark Robinson is the current Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is currently serving his first term.

WUNC, Where do candidates for governor stand on NC's housing needs?

Economy

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WRAL News, In memoir, NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson mulls 2024 run, calls for taking science, history out of elementary schools

Lieutenant Governor's Office, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson on Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 218, Mandating Offshore Wind Power

Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy policy and believes it "will create more jobs and better protect the environment and consumers alike.” An all-of-above energy policy uses a variety of energy sources, including nonrenewable, renewable, and nuclear energy, to meet energy needs.

Said that global warming is “junk science.”

Opposes offshore wind power, believing it to be "unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible."

Opposed governor's offshore wind power plan. According to his office's press release, wind turbines are "unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible."

- Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy policy and believes it "will create more jobs and better protect the environment and consumers alike.” An all-of-above energy policy uses a variety of energy sources, including nonrenewable, renewable, and nuclear energy, to meet energy needs.
- Said that global warming is “junk science.”
- Opposed governor's offshore wind power plan. According to his office's press release, wind turbines are "unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible."

Energy & the Environment

CNN Politics - GOP front-runner for North Carolina governor supported banning abortions without exceptions. Now he avoids using the ‘a-word’

In 2024 supports legislation to limit abortion after a heartbeat can be detected, with exceptions for rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. This differs from an earlier position: in 2020, said, “For me, there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.”

- In 2024 supports legislation to limit abortion after a heartbeat can be detected, with exceptions for rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. This differs from an earlier position: in 2020, said, “For me, there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.”

Healthcare

As of May 21, 2024, Mark Robinson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

News & Record - 'Our message resonated': Greensboro's Mark Robinson on his improbable rise to lieutenant governor

WUNC 91.5 - Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson talks bathrooms, suggests transgender people should go 'outside'

Said, “If you're a man on Friday night, and… on Saturday, you feel like a woman, and you want to go in the women's bathroom in the mall, you will be arrested — or whatever we got to do to you.”

- Opposes gun control legislation.
- Said, “If you're a man on Friday night, and… on Saturday, you feel like a woman, and you want to go in the women's bathroom in the mall, you will be arrested — or whatever we got to do to you.”

Public Safety

The Assembly, Mark Robinson’s Super-Secret Indoctrination Task Force

CBS 17, NC lawmaker calls on Lt. Gov. Robinson to resign over homophobic, transphobic comments

Supports school choice, including private, charter, home, or public schools, and school vouchers, which provide state funding for private schools.

Supports eliminating the State Board of Education and believes there should be “one entity” responsible for state education.

Supports prioritizing reading, writing, and math and removing social sciences like history and science from elementary schools.

As Lieutenant Governor, started a task force “to investigate the indoctrination of the state’s students.” The task force refused to comply with the Open Meetings Law, which states that public body meetings must be announced 48 hours in advance. There are also no recordings or minutes available from the task force meetings.

Said, “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes I called it filth.”

Plans to increase wages for teachers and “hold them to high standards of excellence.”

Supports boosting apprenticeship and vocational programs for career readiness.

- Supports school choice, including private, charter, home, or public schools, and school vouchers, which provide state funding for private schools.
- Supports eliminating the State Board of Education and believes there should be “one entity” responsible for state education.
- Supports prioritizing reading, writing, and math and removing social sciences like history and science from elementary schools.
- As Lieutenant Governor, started a task force “to investigate the indoctrination of the state’s students.” The task force refused to comply with the Open Meetings Law, which states that public body meetings must be announced 48 hours in advance. There are also no recordings or minutes available from the task force meetings.
- Said, “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes I called it filth.”
- Plans to increase wages for teachers and “hold them to high standards of excellence.”
- Supports boosting apprenticeship and vocational programs for career readiness.

Education

Opposed the UN Gaza ceasefire resolution and said, “Israel and the Jewish people must be allowed to secure the release of the hostages, defeat Hamas and defend themselves against terrorism.”

Promises to "partner with law enforcement at all levels to tackle the fentanyl crisis, crack down on illegal immigration and make our country safer.” 

- Opposed the UN Gaza ceasefire resolution and said, “Israel and the Jewish people must be allowed to secure the release of the hostages, defeat Hamas and defend themselves against terrorism.”
- Promises to "partner with law enforcement at all levels to tackle the fentanyl crisis, crack down on illegal immigration and make our country safer.” 

Foreign Policy and Immigration

CNN, ‘I’m a black NAZI!’: NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum

Ground, North Carolina governor candidate Mark Robinson sues CNN over report about posts on porn site

Denies allegations that he referred to himself as a "black NAZI" in comments made on a pornography website over a decade ago, and he has filed a lawsuit against CNN for what he claims is defamatory reporting.

- Denies allegations that he referred to himself as a "black NAZI" in comments made on a pornography website over a decade ago, and he has filed a lawsuit against CNN for what he claims is defamatory reporting.

Ethics & Conduct

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Mark Robinson

Believes global warming is “junk science.”

- Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy policy and believes it "will create more jobs and better protect the environment and consumers alike.” An all-of-above energy policy uses a variety of energy sources, including nonrenewable, renewable, and nuclear energy, to meet energy needs.
- Believes global warming is “junk science.”
- Opposed governor's offshore wind power plan. According to his office's press release, wind turbines are "unreliable, outrageously expensive, environmentally suspect, and socially irresponsible."

Supports legislation to limit abortion after a heartbeat can be detected, with exceptions for rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother since 2024. In 2020, said, “For me, there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.”

- Supports legislation to limit abortion after a heartbeat can be detected, with exceptions for rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother since 2024. In 2020, said, “For me, there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.”

Reportedly made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, but currently denies the allegations.

- Reportedly made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, but currently denies the allegations.

Made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, but currently denies the allegations.

- Made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, but currently denies the allegations.

- Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy policy and believes it "will create more jobs and better protect the environment and consumers alike.” An all-of-above energy policy uses a variety of energy sources, including nonrenewable, renewable, and nuclear energy, to meet energy needs.
- Believes global warming is “junk science.”

In regards to a woman who said she was raped by her taxi driver wrote, “and the moral of this story….. Don’t f**k a white b*tch!”

- Made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, but currently denies the allegations.
- In regards to a woman who said she was raped by her taxi driver wrote, “and the moral of this story….. Don’t f**k a white b*tch!”

Reportedly made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”

Reportedly said he enjoyed watching transgender pornography, where messages were found indicating he referred to himself as a “perv.”

- Reportedly made comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”
- Reportedly said he enjoyed watching transgender pornography, where messages were found indicating he referred to himself as a “perv.”

- The Governor is the chief executive of the state and is tasked with faithfully carrying out the laws of the state. 
- The Governor can advocate for their legislative agenda. They also can veto legislation passed by the state legislature. However, a supermajority in the state legislature can vote to adopt a bill despite the Governor's veto. 
- The Governor appoints more than 350 statewide boards and commissions. The Governor appoints department heads, who make up the Cabinet. 
- The Governor is elected for a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The governor must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the U.S. for five years, and a resident of North Carolina for two years immediately preceding the election. 

The chief executive of the state, who plays a significant role in the laws made every year