Four Aides to Troubled North Carolina Republican Exit Gubernatorial Campaign

By Daniel Trotta

Four senior aides to North Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial candidate resigned on Sunday, just three days after a report revealed that he had previously referred to himself as a “black NAZI!” and suggested reinstating slavery in comments posted on an explicit website.

Mark Robinson, the current lieutenant governor of North Carolina and an African American, denied making these remarks. He announced the departures of his campaign manager, finance director, deputy campaign manager, and senior advisor but did not provide a reason for their resignations.

The gubernatorial race in North Carolina holds significant implications, coinciding with the presidential election on November 5. The outcomes for prominent candidates could influence voter turnout and enthusiasm in this critical battleground state, potentially impacting the election between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

With 45 days remaining until the election, these resignations further destabilize Robinson’s campaign. He is facing off against Democratic candidate Josh Stein, who serves as the state’s attorney general.

“I appreciate the efforts of these team members who have made the difficult choice to step away from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors. I look forward to announcing new staff roles in the coming days,” Robinson stated.

Robinson, 56, who received an endorsement from Trump, has a history of provocative comments but has denied making the statements that were recently reported. In a social media video and an interview, he claimed the accusations were “salacious tabloid lies.”

The posts in question, which were linked to Robinson’s social media username and email address, purportedly endorsed slavery, praised Hitler, and included racial slurs against Blacks, Jews, and Muslims. Many of the comments were described as overtly sexual and offensive and dated from 2008 to 2012, prior to his political career.

While Reuters was unable to verify these posts, it was reported that they had been removed from the explicit website. The North Carolina Republican Party expressed its support for Robinson, but Trump, who had previously applauded him, did not mention him at a campaign rally in Wilmington on Saturday, where Robinson was also absent.