Current:Home > FinanceWhy AP called the North Carolina governor’s race for Josh Stein -DataFinance
Why AP called the North Carolina governor’s race for Josh Stein
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:46:40
Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A massive lead gained from votes cast before Election Day helped deliver victory to North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat who handily defeated Republican Mark Robinson, the state’s scandal-plagued lieutenant governor.
Two factors were largely responsible for Stein’s win. First, most of the state’s votes were cast before Election Day — roughly three-quarters — and Stein won those by more than 16 percentage points. And while Robinson held an early lead when it came to votes cast on Election Day, the vast majority of ballots left to be counted were in population-dense Democratic areas.
When The Associated Press called the race for Stein at 8:50 p.m., he was not only winning Democratic regions of the state, but also held a commanding lead in battleground areas while eating into Robinson’s margins in Republican parts of the state.
The outcome wasn’t exactly a surprise. Robinson had been dogged by incendiary comments he had made in the past, including frequent posts he made to a pornography website’s message board, which were unearthed during the campaign.
CANDIDATES: North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
WINNER: Stein
POLL CLOSING TIME: 7:30 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE RACE:
North Carolina’s race for governor was a bumpy ride from the start after Republicans nominated Robinson, the state’s bombastic lieutenant governor, whose brief political career has been punctuated by antisemitic and sexist commentary — including Robinson telling women to “keep your skirt down” to avoid unwanted pregnancy and referring to Michelle Obama as a man.
Over the summer, Robinson was already polling well behind Stein, the Democratic state attorney general. But Robinson’s approval rating went into a tailspin after CNN published a story in September revealing Robinson had posted racist and explicit messages on a pornography web site message board more than a decade ago, calling himself as a “black NAZI” and stating that he enjoyed transgender pornography.
Many of his campaign staff members resigned and he was excluded from a Trump campaign event in Wilmington.
If Robinson had won, he would have been North Carolina’s first Black governor.
WHY AP CALLED THE RACE: Stein was winning in ballots cast before Election Day, and much of the remaining vote left to be counted was population-dense areas that are predominantly Democratic. These included Wake County, which is home to Raleigh; Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte; and Guilford County, home to Greensboro. There were not enough votes left to be counted in Republican areas for Robinson to overtake Stein’s lead.
___
Learn more about how and why the AP declares winners in U.S. elections at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (85)
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- India and Saudi Arabia agree to expand economic and security ties after the G20 summit
- Julio Urías' locker removed from Dodgers' clubhouse; Dave Roberts says team is moving on
- India and Saudi Arabia agree to expand economic and security ties after the G20 summit
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Hurricane Lee's projected path to bring big surf, dangerous currents to US East Coast
- Spotless giraffe seen in Namibia, weeks after one born at Tennessee zoo
- Novak Djokovic Honors Kobe Bryant in Heartfelt Speech After US Open Win
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Stolen van Gogh painting worth millions recovered by Dutch art detective
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- How Paul Walker's Family Plans to Honor Him on What Would've Been His 50th Birthday
- Who Is Alba Baptista? Everything to Know About Chris Evans' New Wife
- Hurricane Lee generates big swells along northern Caribbean while it churns through open waters
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul
- Drew Barrymore to restart her talk show amid strikes, drawing heated criticism
- How an extramarital affair factors into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
Alabama Barker Praises “Hot Mama” Kourtney Kardashian’s Latest Pregnancy Pics
1958 is calling. It wants its car back! Toyota Land Cruiser 2024 is a spin on old classic
Lahaina high school team pushes ahead with season to give Maui community hope
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Cybersecurity ‘issue’ prompts computer shutdowns at MGM Resorts properties across US
Like Canaries in a Coal Mine, Dragonflies Signal Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems
Danelo Cavalcante press conference livestream: Updates on search for escaped PA prisoner