Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is currently being treated for burns after an incident at a campaign event in Mt. Airy, as confirmed by his communications director. The details of the incident are unclear, but it led to the cancellation of a North Carolina Faith & Freedom event where Robinson was scheduled to speak. The event was canceled due to a power outage caused by Hurricane Helene in the western region of the state where it was supposed to take place.
This incident comes shortly after a CNN report alleging that Robinson made antisemitic and racist comments on a porn website years ago. In response to the report, four top staff members of Robinson’s campaign stepped down, though the campaign did not directly attribute their departures to the allegations. Despite some Republicans expressing concern over the report, Robinson has denied the allegations and remained defiant.
The Harris campaign, seeking to tie Robinson to former President Donald Trump who endorsed him before the CNN report was released, hopes that the controversy surrounding Robinson’s candidacy will help Democrats flip the state blue. Trump won North Carolina narrowly in 2020, and winning the state is seen as crucial for Republicans in future elections. Robinson’s hospitalization for burns adds a new layer of uncertainty to his candidacy as the election draws closer.
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