A Quick Look At The North Carolina Race For Governor

With Election Day just days away, North Carolina is gearing up to reveal its choice for governor along with unofficial results in the presidential race and other key local contests.

While the presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris remains a close call, the gubernatorial race in North Carolina has shown a consistent lead for Democrat Josh Stein over Republican Mark Robinson. Polls have tracked a strong and widening lead for Stein, with RealClear Polling averages placing him nearly 15 points ahead of Robinson.

A Marist Poll similarly indicates a 14-point advantage for Stein, and an Emerson College poll conducted among likely voters from October 21-22 found Stein with a 12-point lead, within a margin of error around 3 points.

“Eight percent of Trump voters are splitting their ticket, voting for Stein in the governor's race, while Harris voters show little to no similar crossover for Robinson,” noted Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

Robinson’s campaign has been marked by controversies over inflammatory remarks, most recently following allegations of inappropriate comments in online forums, which he has denied. Polls suggest this negative perception may be affecting other Republican candidates down-ballot. Jason Husser, poll director at Elon University, observed a Democratic edge in Council of State races and noted that Robinson’s unfavorable ratings could be impacting the Republican ticket.

However, high levels of undecided voters across several state races mean results may still be influenced by final voter turnout. Early voting is underway, and North Carolinians will have until Tuesday, November 5, to cast their ballots.