Top GOP Candidate For N.C. Governor Has A History Of Demeaning Successful Women

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North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is known for having a long history of peddling conspiracy theories.

It turns out he’s got a long history of something else, too: demeaning successful women.

Robinson, who is currently the state’s lieutenant governor and leading Republican candidate for governor, has lashed out at nearly two dozen women who are public figures in politics and entertainment.

A review of his Facebook posts over the years reveals a pattern of offensive and disgusting language in the way he talks about prominent women, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, singer Taylor Swift and Vice President Kamala Harris.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) said Michelle Obama emanates
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) said Michelle Obama emanates

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) said Michelle Obama emanates "the stench of human waste."

Mark Robinson, who is the leading Republican candidate to be governor in North Carolina, appears to have a problem with successful women.
Mark Robinson, who is the leading Republican candidate to be governor in North Carolina, appears to have a problem with successful women.

Mark Robinson, who is the leading Republican candidate to be governor in North Carolina, appears to have a problem with successful women.

Those are just Robinson’s attacks on women in politics. He’s made disparaging comments about lots of women in entertainment, too.

Mark Robinson, the leading GOP candidate for governor in North Carolina, has called a number of female singers and actors
Mark Robinson, the leading GOP candidate for governor in North Carolina, has called a number of female singers and actors

Mark Robinson, the leading GOP candidate for governor in North Carolina, has called a number of female singers and actors "whores."

Who is surprised that Mark Robinson has been endorsed by Donald Trump, and has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024?
Who is surprised that Mark Robinson has been endorsed by Donald Trump, and has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024?

Who is surprised that Mark Robinson has been endorsed by Donald Trump, and has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024?

But wait, there’s more!

Robinson has also condemned women in professional sports.

Whew.

HuffPost reached out to Robinson ― both his campaign and his state government office ― to ask why the lieutenant governor has spent years publicly attacking and demeaning so many successful women.

Neither office responded.

Robinson’s baggage is clearly worrying some top Republicans in North Carolina, who are reportedly rallying around a new pick ― wealthy businessman and attorney Bill Graham ― to become their party’s gubernatorial front-runner. Graham, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2008, jumped into the race on Wednesday and is pledging to spend millions of dollars of his own money.

He is joining a crowded GOP primary with Robinson and four other conservative candidates, including former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, and Dale Folwell, the state treasurer. Josh Stein, who is currently the state’s attorney general, is the leading Democratic contender for governor.

Despite North Carolina being a swing state, Democrats have held the governor’s seat for the last 30 years, except for one four-year stretch with GOP Gov. Pat McCrory. Current Gov. Roy Cooper is term-limited out in 2024.

HuffPost previously talked to political analysts in North Carolina to get a sense of how Robinson, with his dangerous conspiracy theories and disgusting attacks on women, came to be the GOP’s front-runner for governor. The consensus was that he has two things going for him that other GOP candidates don’t: name recognition and Trump’s endorsement.

“He represents the culture war id of the Republican Party,” said Steven Greene, a political science professor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

Greene predicted that if Robinson does become the GOP nominee, he will lose the general election in 2024.

“We have seen ever since the elevation of Trump, Republican primary voters, again and again, time and time and time again, choosing the candidate who makes an awful general election candidate in a purple state,” he said.

“My presumption is Mark Robinson will fall right into this pattern.”

CORRECTION: This article initially stated Democrats have held the governor’s seat for the past 30 years; a Republican was governor for four years during that time. 

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