Mark Robinson stays in NC governor's race amid bombshell report backlash

North Carolina

Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, the

Republican nominee

for governor, vowed to continue his campaign Thursday despite a damaging

CNN report

.
CNN revealed inflammatory comments allegedly made by Mark Robinson over a decade ago on a porn site’s message board. Despite growing pressure from some GOP members to drop out, Robinson is determined to stay in the race.
CNN reported that Robinson, under the username “minisoldr,” made a series of offensive posts between 2008 and 2012 on the website "

Nude Africa

."
These posts included Robinson calling himself a “black NAZI” and expressing support for reinstating slavery.

“Slavery is not bad. Some people need to be slaves. I wish they would bring it [slavery] back. I would certainly buy a few,” he said.
Additionally, Robinson is accused of posting lewd and sexual comments, including claims of enjoying transgender pornography. The network said it verified Robinson’s identity through an email address he frequently used and biographical details listed on the account.
Robinson released a video on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the story’s publication, dismissing the allegations.

“Let me reassure you, the things you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said.
“You know my words. You know my character, and you know that I have been completely transparent in this race and before,” he added.

Despite Robinson’s denial, some North Carolina Republicans have suggested he step aside to protect the party.
Jonathan Bridges, a former campaign manager for one of Robinson’s primary opponents, urged him to withdraw "for the sake of the party and down-ballot races." Republican state Senate candidate Scott Lassiter echoed these calls, saying, “North Carolinians deserve a viable choice.”
However, it may be too late to remove Robinson’s name from the ballot, as absentee ballots have already been printed. Overseas and military ballots are scheduled for distribution the next day, creating logistical challenges.
Robinson, who has risen quickly in the political arena after a viral anti-gun control speech in 2018, has frequently faced backlash over his inflammatory rhetoric.
His campaign has also had strong backing from Donald Trump, who once praised him as "Martin Luther King on steroids."
This new controversy, along with prior reports about his personal life, including visits to porn shops long after claiming to be a devout Christian, has intensified calls for his exit.
As the

gubernatorial race

against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein continues, Robinson insists he will not drop out, declaring, "We are in it to win it."