U.S. Supreme Court decision intensifies North Carolina governor’s race
Since January 2023, North Carolina Democrats have been highlighting Republican positions on abortion to influence voters as the election nears, with only five months left until Election Day. Democratic attacks have particularly targeted gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor, Mark Robinson, criticizing his stance even before his official candidacy announcement. The relevance of abortion issues in voters’ minds has been reinforced by a recent U.S. Supreme Michigan decision on mifepristone, providing Democrats with additional arguments against Republican policies.
Polling data from North Carolina suggests varying priorities among voters. A poll conducted by The Telegraph in early May showed that 38% of 553 likely voters ranked the economy as their primary concern, followed by abortion at over 16%, and immigration at just over 8%. Another poll by the East Carolina University Center for Survey Research from May 31 to June 3 among 1,332 registered voters found similar trends with inflation and the economy overshadowing abortion as key issues.
(The Center Square) – North Carolina Democrats have urged voters since January 2023 to consider Republican stances on abortion as Election Day closes to within five months.
Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson was being hammered in press releases by the chairwoman of the state Democratic Party well before he officially said he would run. Things haven’t let up for the lieutenant governor since.
Thursday’s decision on mifepristone at the U.S. Supreme Court could be considered to have given Democrats more ammunition.
Of the statewide polls since May 1, only two of nine asked questions related to either abortion or important issues. Money won out on those, as in what is in the voters’ pockets.
Of 553 likely voters sampled in early May by The Telegraph, using Redfield & Wilton Strategies, 38% said the economy was the top issue. Abortion was second at better than 16%, with immigration a distant third at just over 8%.
Of 1,332 registered voters checked by the East Carolina University Center for Survey Research May 31-June 3, inflation was the top issue at 41.5%, followed by the economy in general at 16.9%. Abortion was next at 12.5%.
In April, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Anderson Clayton said, “Abortion is going to be the No. 1 issue that we run on for people in North Carolina to make sure that folks know we’ve got to protect not only abortion but also contraception.”
Robinson has punched at Stein’s public safety record as attorney general, mixing it with border security. The economy and inflation are foundational to his and all Republican strategies.
When news came Thursday of the Supreme Court keeping mifepristone available, Clayton said, “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court does not change the fact that reproductive freedom is on the ballot this November,” Clayton said Thursday of the Supreme Court ruling that keeps mifepristone available. “Donald Trump and his allies like Mark Robinson are hellbent on taking away access to lifesaving reproductive health care including IVF and contraception.”
Carolina Forward, a partisan sponsor of the state Democratic Party, abortion rights in its May poll. Its quick link to polling on abortion rights goes to a 2021 survey.
Robinson is dueling with Attorney General Josh Stein for governor. Stein’s broadcast advertising launched last week includes a Facebook Live video from 2019 before Robinson won the statewide election, where the Republican says, “Abortion in this country is not about protecting the lives of mothers. It’s about killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down.”
Polling shows a tight race, with neither candidate able to escape the margin of error or credibility interval to establish a solid lead.
In the latest poll for ECU, Stein led 44%-43% with 11% undecided and 4% choosing the option of some other candidate.
Democrats have historical domination in the race for governor.
North Carolina had a Republican governor when the Civil War ended in 1865. Only seven have been elected since; three were elected before 1880, and only three have come since 1900.
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