North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is seen speaking at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump on March 2, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
A general election victory by a Republican would essentially neuter veto power that Cooper has used a record number of times to block additional abortion restrictions, stricter requirements for voters and other policies backed by conservatives. GOP legislators have been able to override many of Cooper's vetoes, however.
Robinson, who has a working-class background, is a favorite of the party's GOP base. While he raised more money overall than primary rivals, Folwell and Graham have used personal funds towards late-campaign media buys. They've questioned Robinson's general-election electability, particularly in light of his rhetoric while lieutenant governor and for comments he made on social media before entering politics.
Stein, the son of a civil rights lawyer, is by far the largest fundraiser in the race. His campaign committee collected over $19.1 million and had $12.7 million in cash in mid-February, according to the most recent campaign report summaries filed.
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Stein, who would be the state's first Jewish governor if elected, would largely seek to continue Cooper's agenda to increase public education funding and promote clean energy industries while acting as a bulwark against what Democrats consider to be extreme GOP policies. The former state legislator was narrowly elected attorney general in 2016 and has focused recently on protecting citizens from polluters, illegal drugs and high electric bills.
Robinson, who is already the state's first Black lieutenant governor, has dismissed conventional climate change as "junk science," and has fought teachers who he says have assigned inappropriate reading materials on racism and sexuality to young pupils. Robinson has said making education leaders accountable and teaching students the basics are among his policy goals if elected.
Before Tuesday, over 690,000 people had cast early in-person and mail-in ballots in North Carolina, where voters also were choosing nominees for other statewide executive and appellate court positions.
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