Democratic Alarm as GOP’s Mark Robinson Surges, Poised to Make History in NC Governor Race

The rise of Republican Mark Robinson in North Carolina politics is nothing short of spectacular.

In the spring of 2018, Robinson, a Greensboro-based resident and furniture manufacturer, spoke to the city council about gun rights when the city was considering canceling a gun show.

In the four-minute speech, Robinson was enraged that “law-abiding” citizens like him were “the first to be taxed and the last to be considered”, and also the first people blamed when it comes to debates on gun rights in America following mass shootings.

“It seems that every time there is a shooting, nobody wants to place the blame at the feet of the perpetrator. You want it to be at my feet. You want to restrict my rights. It’s written in black and white. You want to limit my right to purchase a gun to protect myself against some of the people that you are talking about here tonight.”

He raged, “[Law-abiding firearm owners] are taxed first and last.” “And they are the first to be punished when such things happen, our rights are being taken away.”

“I’m here tonight to tell you that [taking guns from law-abiding residents] will not happen without a struggle. When I say fight, it doesn’t mean that shots are fired. I’m not talking about fists. I will come to this council and yell like the left-wing loonies until you listen to the majority in this town. And I’m the majority. Most people in this town are law-abiding citizens and want to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms.

Click below to view it for those who missed it, or want to watch it again:

The speech went viral in no time on social media. A month later, Robinson, a conservative without apology, spoke to an NRA audience during the NRA/ILA Leadership Forum held in Dallas.

Who else addressed the crowd? Donald Trump, then-President.

Robinson won the nomination as lieutenant governor in March 2020. This was nearly two years after he had defeated other established GOP candidates. Robinson won the nomination for lieutenant governor in the fall of the same year over a well-funded Democratic opponent, and North Carolina’s notoriously liberal media machine. He received more votes than Trump who also carried North Carolina in that same year.

Robinson, who received Trump’s endorsement, hopes to repeat history this fall by winning the nomination for governor on Super Tuesday.

He will face the current Attorney General of the state, Josh Stein. Stein received 200,000 fewer votes on Tuesday than Robinson.

The Democrat panic is already in full swing. Critics have referred to old social media posts, and statements that critics claim make Robinson a dangerous extreme.

Steve Bennen wrote that Robinson’s victory in the primary election was a scandal for the Republican Party.

The Huffington Post was huffing about the “conspiracy theorist” who is a “Donald Trump acolyte.” He will now try to distance himself, despite his history of offensive remarks such as antisemitism and sexist remarks.

The Guardian headline read: “Hitler quotes candidate wins North Carolina Republican governor’s primary”.

Of course, North Carolina voters will decide Robinson’s fate. If history is any indication, Robinson won’t go down quietly in November.