Josh Stein Maintains Significant Lead Over Mark Robinson in North Carolina Governor Race

As the election for the North Carolina governorship approaches, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein continues to hold a substantial lead over his Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, according to recent polls.

A WRAL News Poll released on November 4 shows Stein leading Robinson by 15 points, with 52% of likely voters favoring Stein and 37% supporting Robinson. This poll, conducted by Survey USA between October 23 and October 26, reflects a consistent advantage for Stein in the race.

Other polling data also indicate a significant gap between the two candidates. A New York Times/Siena College poll released on November 4 reported that Stein is up by 17 points over Robinson. Additionally, the Real Clear Polling average gives Stein a nearly 14-percent advantage over his opponent.

The wide lead for Stein is notable, especially given that the presidential race in North Carolina is closely tied, with voters evenly split between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.

Stein, who has served as North Carolina’s attorney general since 2017 and as a state senator from 2009 to 2017, has received strong support from current Governor Roy Cooper, who is term-limited. Stein’s campaign has also outspent Robinson’s significantly, collecting $44.6 million in a three-month period, approximately 11 times more than his opponent.

Robinson, who has been in office as lieutenant governor since 2021 and is the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, has faced controversy during his campaign. He has denied allegations of posting inflammatory comments on an online message board over a decade ago and has sued CNN for defamation over the reporting.