Robinson, Stein to face off for NC governor's seat in November

With no surprises, frontrunners Democrat Josh Stein and Republican Mark Robinson will face off in the November election for North Carolina’s governor.

The Associated Press called the primary at about 8 p.m. with less than half of the results in, but an overwhelming percentage of those votes going for both Stein and Robinson.

Robinson is the current state’s lieutenant governor, and Stein, the current state attorney general. Gov. Roy Cooper isn't running again because of term limits.

Either candidate would make history if elected. Stein would be North Carolina's first Jewish governor. Robinson would be the state's first Black governor.

With almost all precincts counted, Stein had racked up 69.3% of the votes cast. Mike Morgan, a former state Supreme Court justice, had 14.3%, with three others trailing in the single digits.

Robinson had 65.3%, leading state treasurer Dale Folwell, who had 18.9%, and Salisbury attorney Bill Graham with 16%.

Stein said on social media that he is ready for the general election.

Robinson's opponents tried to make an issue of his past comments on the Holocaust, such as a Facebook post in which Robinson put "six million Jews" in quotes, as well as incendiary comments on LGBT people and his history of bankruptcies. But the attacks didn't stick — and Robinson grabbed the endorsement of former president Donald Trump, a linchpin in many Republican contests.

After the votes were counted, Robinson said he's "full steam ahead" for November.

"The state of North Carolina has been doggone good to Mark Robinson," he said.