Robinson, the lieutenant governor, has been mired in controversy after reports surfaced that he made a series of comments on a porn website forum calling himself a “black Nazi,” among other sexually explicit posts.
Attorney General Josh Stein campaigned successfully as a moderate Democrat and described Robinson as unfit to lead, comfortably winning the race to succeed fellow Democrat Roy Cooper.
Stein will be the first Jewish governor in the history of North Carolina.
In September, CNN reported that Robinson had posted a series of racially and sexually explicit posts on a porn site’s forum.
Robinson has always denied the claims and sued CNN for defamation.
Among other inflammatory comments, Robinson allegedly wrote “I am a black NAZI”, expressed support for the restoration of slavery and called himself a “pervert”.
The comments preceded his entry into politics and serving as lieutenant governor of North Carolina.
They were made under a username that CNN was able to identify as Robinson by matching a litany of biographical details and a shared email address between the two.
In the days after the report, most of Robinson’s top campaign staff quit.
Robinson’s short political career was punctuated by anti-Semitic and sexist comments – including Robinson telling women to “lower their skirts” to avoid unwanted pregnancies and referring to Michelle Obama as a man.
Incoming Governor Stein is a Harvard-educated lawyer, former state senator and has been the state’s chief law enforcement officer since 2017.
Democrats have held the governor’s mansion for all but four years since 1993, though the GOP has held the legislative majority since 2011.
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In tonight’s speech, Robinson indirectly addressed Stein’s ads, saying he didn’t spend millions of dollars “demonizing anybody” during his campaign.
“I’m disappointed for you because I wanted this for you so much,” Robinson told fans, adding that he was “glad to win a race that was fair and decent.”
– CNN and Associated Press reported.