Lt. Gov. Robinson ‘95% sure’ he’ll run for NC governor in 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says he’s fairly certain he will run for governor in 2024, rather than seek a second term in his current post.

He said in a public conference call posted this week that he was “95% sure” of a gubernatorial run.

“We’re about 95% sure we’re gonna run for governor,” Robinson said in the posted recording of a public conference call Tuesday with E.W. Jackson, a minister and former Virginia political candidate. “We have not announced that we’re going to run for governor, but we’re about 95% there, and it’s a logical step for us to take. So, be on the lookout for that.”

Robinson was elected lieutenant governor last November in his first bid for political office.

Current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper can’t seek reelection again due to term limits.

Robinson, who is also the state’s first Black lieutenant governor, has been an outspoken advocate of efforts to limit what conservatives call racial indoctrination or “critical race theory” in classrooms.

He’s faced recent resignation demands after comments he made about sex education in schools that critics say disparaged LGBTQ people. Robinson said his words focused on reading materials found in some public schools, not people, and hasn’t apologized.

Robinson said he was talking about reading materials, not people.

Every North Carolina lieutenant governor going back more than 50 years ultimately ran for governor, with mixed results.

Robinson said on the call that he decided against a run for U.S. Senate next year because “we believe the work that we need to do is right here in the state.”

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Demand for LGBTQ+ advocacy services has increased significantly during pandemic

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