North Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, expressed his determination to stay in the race following anticipation of a forthcoming media report against him. He asserted that he will not be influenced by what he referred to as “sensational tabloid fabrications.” Despite recent polls showing him trailing behind Democratic nominee Josh Stein, Robinson, the current lieutenant governor who won the GOP gubernatorial primary decisively in March, affirmed his commitment to victory in a video shared on X social media platform.

Robinson hinted in the video about a report supposedly from CNN without offering specifics about its content. He reassured his supporters that the alleged contents of the story do not represent his words or character, emphasizing that they know him better than that.

The authenticity of the purported story has not been verified independently by any credible sources. Robinson’s track record of making controversial statements has been highlighted by Stein, who argues that Robinson’s extreme views make him unfit to lead North Carolina. These concerns have raised the possibility that Robinson’s campaign struggles could impact Donald Trump’s chances of winning North Carolina’s electoral votes and affect other Republican candidates on the ballot.

Recent polls in North Carolina indicate a tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, with Stein holding a significant lead over Robinson. Robinson’s past remarks include a 2019 Facebook post where he made comments about abortion and a 2021 speech in a church where he used derogatory language when discussing LGBTQ+ individuals.

According to state law, a gubernatorial candidate can withdraw from the race until the day before absentee ballots are distributed to military and overseas voters, which starts Friday. Consequently, Thursday night marks the deadline for withdrawal.

Former President Donald Trump has been a vocal supporter of Robinson, considering him a rising star in the Republican Party known for his impassioned speeches. Trump, during a rally in Greensboro ahead of the primary in March, compared Robinson to “Martin Luther King on steroids,” praising his oratory skills reminiscent of the civil rights leader.