Toward the end of 2007, Mark Robinson, currently North Carolina’s Republican nominee for governor, created a Facebook account, initially to post about pro wrestling. Over time, his posts shifted to political commentary, reflecting his views as a Black hard-right conservative. He gained attention as an online provocateur, aiming to provoke reactions with his controversial statements.
Robinson's rise in politics has been marked by his Christian-centered social conservatism and strong public speaking skills, leading him to serve as lieutenant governor. However, his gubernatorial campaign is struggling following a CNN report linking him to sexually graphic comments posted anonymously on a pornography website between 2008 and 2012. He has filed a defamation suit against CNN, but has not provided evidence to support his claims of the report being “recklessly false.”
Prior to the CNN report, Robinson was already facing declining poll numbers as his Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, highlighted his extreme statements, including derogatory comments about women who have abortions and remarks perceived as racist, antisemitic, and transphobic.
Robinson's political ascent is seen as a product of an era of democratized media, which has amplified unfiltered voices. His journey serves as a cautionary tale for the Republican Party regarding the risks of elevating candidates known for their provocative online presence.
In interviews, Robinson's friends described him as opinionated and a mischief-maker, with a loud personality. He grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, in a challenging environment marked by poverty and family struggles, including time spent in foster care and reliance on government assistance.
Despite these challenges, Robinson was influenced by successful Black individuals in his community and developed a disdain for narratives portraying Black people solely as victims. He became a conservative in the mid-1990s after reading Rush Limbaugh's works, which he initially intended to critique but found resonated with his views.
Robinson's personal and professional life has been tumultuous, including multiple bankruptcies and regulatory scrutiny of businesses he and his wife operated. His controversial online comments, which attracted a significant following, included disparaging remarks about prominent civil rights figures and criticisms of African Americans concerned about racism.
In 2018, Robinson gained national attention after a pro-gun speech at a Greensboro City Council meeting, leading to appearances on conservative media platforms and a successful run for lieutenant governor in 2019.
However, issues continued to arise, including regulatory challenges faced by a nonprofit organization run by his wife. Following the CNN report, most of Robinson’s campaign staff resigned, and support from the Republican Governors Association diminished, with notable Republican figures distancing themselves from him.
Robinson had previously expressed aspirations for higher office, stating that any decision would be left to divine guidance and social media.