Mark Robinson (American politician)

Mark Keith Robinson (born August 18, 1968 ) is an American politician who has served as the 35th lieutenant governor of North Carolina since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he is the first African American to hold the office of lieutenant governor in North Carolina. He is the Republican nominee for Governor of North Carolina in the 2024 election. Robinson defeated Democratic nominee Yvonne Lewis Holley in the 2020 lieutenant gubernatorial election. Robinson has promoted various far-right conspiracy theories, engaged in Holocaust denial, denied sexual assault allegations against various prominent figures, and has often made inflammatory anti-LGBT,   antisemitic, racist, anti-atheist, and Islamophobic statements.

Early life and education
Robinson was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, as the ninth of ten children. Robinson has said that his father was abusive and alcoholic, and that he and his family suffered from domestic violence; Robinson and his siblings lived in foster care for part of their childhood, before moving back in with their mother, who worked as a custodian. After graduating from Grimsley High School, he served in the Army Reserve, later attending North Carolina A&T State University and working at several furniture factories in the Triad region. While working in furniture manufacturing, he took history classes at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with the goal of securing a degree and becoming a history teacher. He graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in history in December 2022.

Political career
Robinson attributed the beginning of his interest in American conservative politics to his reading of a book by Rush Limbaugh, after which he "found out that I was conservative and always had been." On April 3, 2018, Robinson attended a meeting of the Greensboro City Council, where they debated whether or not to cancel a gun show in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Robinson spoke in favor of gun rights, and video of his speech went viral after it was shared on Facebook by Mark Walker. Afterwards, Robinson dropped out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and left his job in furniture manufacturing to focus on public speaking engagements. He was invited to speak at the National Rifle Association of America's annual convention that year.

2020 campaign
In 2019, Robinson entered the Republican primary in the election for lieutenant governor of North Carolina after the finance reporting period ended. He won the Republican nomination, clearing the 30% threshold to avoid a primary runoff, defeating state senator Andy Wells, superintendent of public instruction Mark Johnson, former congresswoman Renee Ellmers, and former state representative Scott Stone. He faced Democratic nominee Yvonne Lewis Holley in the general election in November, in a race in which either Robinson or Holley would become North Carolina's first African-American lieutenant governor. Robinson was elected, becoming the second black person ever elected to the North Carolina Council of State (the first was Ralph Campbell Jr.)

Robinson's 2020 campaign finance reports contained incomplete information on his campaign contributors. Campaign finance watchdog Bob Hall identified several questionable expenditures in Robinson's campaign reports, including $186 for medical bills and for $2,840 for "campaign clothes and accessories" (most of it spent at a sporting goods shop); the campaign did not explain how these expenditures were campaign-related. Robinson's reports also stated that Robinson's wife spent $4,500 for "campaign clothing" but gave no details. The reports also stated that Robinson withdrew an unexplained $2,400 in cash in apparent violation of a state law requiring all candidate cash payments over $50 to be accompanied by a detailed description explaining of what the money was for. After these expenses came under scrutiny in 2021, Robinson's campaign blamed "clerical errors"; Bob Hall filed a formal complaint with the State Board of Elections over these and other discrepancies.

Political views and remarks
Robinson promoted his persona as a "brash and unfiltered conservative culture warrior". He opposes abortion, promotes climate change denial, and opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana. He has indicated that he wants to remove science and social studies from first- through fifth-grade curriculum, abolish the State Board of Education, and expand charter schools and school voucher programs, potentially supplanting the public-school system.

Antisemitic remarks
Robinson's past antisemitic comments have drawn scrutiny and condemnation. Prior to running for lieutenant governor, he frequently made Facebook posts that invoked antisemitic stereotypes and downplayed the harms of Nazism. He claimed that the Marvel movie Black Panther was "created by an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic Marxists" that was "only created to pull the shekels out of your Schvartze pockets" (using a Yiddish word for "black people"). Robinson also appeared at an interview with fringe pastor Sean Moon, who claimed that he planned to become "king of the United States"; in the interview, Moon claimed that the Rothschild family was one of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse" and promoted the antisemitic conspiracy theory of a cabal of Jewish "international bankers" that rule every country's central bank. Robinson endorsed Moon's claim as "exactly right". Robinson's statements, as well as his refusal to apologize for or retract them, drew much concern from the leaders of North Carolina's Jewish community, as well as criticism from the Jewish Democratic Council of America and the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC). Robinson declined to publicly apologize for any of his remarks, although he said he privately apologized to local Jewish leaders in a meeting in 2021. In 2022, Robinson said that his Facebook post about Black Panther was "the only time I've ever apologized for anything I put on Facebook" and said "I knew the truth of what I was trying to say, but I should have chosen different words."

In October 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel, Robinson said he supported Israel and, when asked about his past antisemitic comments, said "I've never been antisemitic...There have been some Facebook posts that were poorly worded on my part, did not convey my real sentiments, and I have addressed those issues and moved on from those issues." When asked if he apologized, Robinson said, "I apologize for the word — not necessarily for the content, but we apologize for the wording." Robinson's opponents in the gubernatorial election questioned the sincerity of the apology and called his prior statements hate speech and antisemitism.

Holocaust denial
In March 2023, more of Robinson's past social-media statements emerged, including Facebook posts appearing to call the figure of 6 million Jews perishing in the Holocaust into question; for example, Robinson wrote: "this foolishness about Hitler disarming MILLIONS of Jews and then marching them off to concentration camps is a bunch of hogwash," and "There is a REASON the liberal media fills the airwaves with programs about the NAZI and the '6 million Jews' they murdered." Both Democrats and Republicans criticized Robinson's statements.

Anti-gay and transphobic comments
After the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, Robinson wrote that "Homosexuality is STILL an abominable sin and I WILL NOT join in 'celebrating gay pride.'"

In a June 2021 speech at a Seagrove, North Carolina church, Robinson disparaged "transgenderism and homosexuality", saying: "There's no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth. And yes I called it filth. And if you don't like that I called it filth, come see me and I'll explain it to you." In the same speech, he called for an end to the separation of church and state in public schools. In October 2021, after Robinson's speech was brought to light by Right Wing Watch, Democratic state senator Jeff Jackson called for Robinson to resign, and Governor Roy Cooper's office said that "It's abhorrent to hear anyone, and especially an elected official, use hateful rhetoric that hurts people and our state's reputation." North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein made similar comments.

The Biden administration, in a White House Press Office statement, condemned Robinson's words as "repugnant and offensive" and said that a leader's role is "to bring people together and stand up for the dignity and rights of everyone; not to spread hate and undermine their own office." The following month, Robinson said that heterosexual couples are "superior" to gay couples because the latter cannot conceive a child together. Robinson compared homosexuality to cow manure, maggots, and flies, explaining that the latter all serve a purpose in God's creation; whereas, with homosexuality, Robinson remarked, "If homosexuality is of God, what purpose does it serve? What does it make? What does it create? It creates nothing."

On February 3, 2024, Robinson said he was in support of arresting transgender persons for using a restroom not identified with their birth sex, and he also said that transgender people should "find a corner outside somewhere" if they need to use a public restroom.

Other controversial remarks
On his Facebook page, which has more than 100,000 followers, Robinson's posts, which have impugned transgender people, Muslims, former President Barack Obama, and African-Americans who support Democrats, have drawn criticism. Robinson accused people "who support this mass delusion called transgenderism" of seeking "to glorify Satan". Robinson called Obama "a worthless, anti-American atheist" and posted "birther" memes; accused American Muslims of being "INVADERS" who "refuse to assimilate to our ways while demanding respect they have not earned"; called Michelle Obama a man; and disparaged Joy Behar and Maxine Waters in crude terms. In 2020, Robinson asserted that the coronavirus was a "globalist" conspiracy to defeat Donald Trump, and dismissed the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, writing, "The looming pandemic I'm most worried about is SOCIALISM." In 2022, after U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was violently assaulted at his home, Robinson made light of the attack and posted falsehoods about it.

Over seven years, Robinson used his Facebook page to attack immigrants, members of the LGBT community, Jews, and black people. In a 2013 post, he said that the slogan "white pride" was not racist, writing: "I am TIRED of blacks and mexicans running around shouting about being proud of their race." Robinson later wrote, "Note to liberals; I'll accept "Gay Pride" when you accept "White Pride"." In other posts, Robinson mocked Chinese accents; referred to African Americans using ethnic slurs (including "muddle headed negroes," "apes," and "a monkey"). He also promoted various conspiracy theories, including claims that the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby were orchestrated by "the Illuminati"; that Barack Obama was a "top ranking demon" and that Ellen DeGeneres was "proudly serving in Satan's army"; and that the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony featured "occult symbols." Referring to abortion, he also wrote that the African-American community "murders its children by the millions."

In a March 2018 podcast, Robinson called the Civil Rights Movement a communist plot to "subvert capitalism" and "to subvert free choice". He has also called Martin Luther King Jr. a "communist" and "ersatz pastor".

In 2020, the Charlotte Observer editorial board described Robinson's posts as "cringeworthy" and "an embarrassment," while the state Democratic Party called them "homophobic, anti-Semitic, and downright unhinged." Robinson's posts were also criticized by Equality North Carolina and Jewish community leaders in North Carolina. Robinson declined to apologize for his posts, saying, "I'm not ashamed of anything that I post."

Robinson defended the Kent State massacre of 1970, in which National Guardsmen killed several students at Ohio's Kent State University who were protesting the Vietnam War. After the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Robinson mocked the teenage survivors, repeatedly disparaging them in personal terms, calling the Parkland survivors "spoiled, angry, know it all CHILDREN"; "spoiled little bastards"; and "media prosti-tots". He has additionally stated that mass shootings are "karma" for abortion, and has baselessly placed blame for them on gun safety activists.

On June 23, 2023, Robinson delivered remarks at a conference hosted by Moms for Liberty in which he encouraged the reading of the writings of several 20th century dictators, stating, "Here's the thing....Whether you're talking about Adolf Hitler, whether you're talking about Chairman Mao, whether you're talking about Stalin, whether you're talking about Pol Pot, whether you're talking about Castro in Cuba, or whether you're talking about a dozen other despots all around the globe, it is time for us to get back and start reading some of those quotes." The comments sparked another controversy, with media sources expressing concern over whether he may have implied the aforementioned 20th-century dictators were misunderstood or being taken out of context, in addition to the fact that he promoted the reading of their ideas at all.

At a speech on June 30, 2024, made in a White Lake church, he said "Some folks need killing!" He continued to say "It's time for somebody to say it. It's not a matter of vengeance. It's not a matter of being mean or spiteful. It's a matter of necessity!" The pastor of the church defended the remarks.

Tenure
Robinson was sworn in on January 9, 2021. During his tenure, Robinson has had a fraught relationship with Democratic Governor Roy Cooper; Robinson described communication between the two as "nonexistent". As lieutenant governor, the constitution prescribes that Robinson serve as acting governor when Cooper leaves the state, although Cooper regularly does not inform Robinson on his departures. In 2023, Robinson convinced the legislature to pass legislation establishing the North Carolina Medal of Valor for law enforcement officers and making his office responsible for its implementation.

FACTS Task Force
After swearing into office, Robinson began focusing on education issues, particularly with regards to the appropriateness of instructional and reading materials available to children enrolled in schools. On March 26, 2021, he launched the FACTS (Fairness, Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students) Task Force through his office's website. The 12-member task force was to field reports of political bias in instruction in public schools. The task force was later expanded to 15 members. The task force failed to comply with the state open meeting law by maintaining records of its meetings or transactions. The lieutenant governor's general counsel argued that the task force was not obligated to do so, as it was not a "public body" and existed only to advise the lieutenant governor's office. The chief attorney of the General Assembly's Legislative Analysis Division disagreed, saying that the board met the criteria under state law for being considered a public body. Further ambiguity surrounded the task force's legal status, as state law did not explicitly authorize or prohibit lieutenant governors from creating their own official boards.

The task force released a report on submitted complaints in late August 2021. Over 500 complaints pertained to biased lesson plans and instructional materials concerning race and LGBTQ issues and Christians, while others directly attacked the task force itself as a fishing expedition and a waste of resources. That month, Robinson pushed for the adoption of a bill in the legislature that sought to prevent teachers from compelling students to adhere to 13 specific beliefs, including notions that one race or sex is superior to others.

2024 gubernatorial run
On April 22, 2023, Robinson announced his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor of North Carolina during a speech at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina.

On March 5, 2024, Robinson secured the Republican nomination for governor of North Carolina, winning the nomination early in the night. He is the first black person to secure a major party nomination for the office of governor in the state. In his primary victory speech he departed from his earlier statements on social issues, instead speaking about his impoverished background and emphasizing his wish to strengthen the state's economy.

Personal life
Robinson married his wife, Yolanda Hill, in 1990. They had a child in 1990 and another in 1992. They live in High Point, North Carolina. He identifies as an evangelical Christian and has been invited to preach at congregations including Trinity Baptist Church in Mooresville, North Carolina.

In a 2012 social media post, Robinson acknowledged that in 1989, he paid for a woman that he impregnated to get an abortion. In 2022, Robinson said the woman in question was his eventual wife, Yolanda.

Bankruptcies and debts
Robinson filed for bankruptcy on three occasions: in 1998, 1999 and 2003. He has also been sued several times for nonpayment of debts. In 2012, Robinson's landlord sued him for failure to pay around $2,000 in rent; the landlord filed for summary ejectment (eviction).

According to court records, Robinson did not pay seven years of federal income tax, and had tax liens placed on him by the Internal Revenue Service as recently as 2012. Robinson said in 2020 that his issues with the IRS had been resolved.

In 2022, Robinson told WRAL-TV in an interview, "I don't have any unpaid taxes." After the television station revealed that Robinson owed several hundred dollars to Guilford County in five delinquent vehicle tax bills (dating from 2006 to 2018), Robinson paid off the tax debt. He said he was unaware that he had unpaid vehicle tax, adding: "I'm not very good at math."