Robinson’s NC Republican rivals report spending surge

Democrat Stein leads gubernatorial candidates in funds

RALEIGH, N.C. — Rivals to North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in Tuesday’s Republican gubernatorial primary outspent his campaign in the first seven weeks of 2024, according to finance reports due last week.

Through mid-February, Robinson continued to outpace fellow GOP candidates trial attorney Bill Graham and State Treasurer Dale Folwell in overall outside donations received and spending during this election cycle.

But Folwell and Graham, buoyed by self-financing of their campaigns, reported spending more than Robinson in recent weeks as absentee and early in-person voting began.

In this week’s five-person Democratic primary for governor, Attorney General Josh Stein continued to put up big numbers and had the most cash in his campaign coffers of any gubernatorial candidate. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is term-limited from seeking reelection.

Graham’s campaign told the State Board of Election that it received $1.82 million between Jan. 1 and Feb. 17 — almost all coming from personal loans — and spent $1.87 million, with the lion’s share to advertising. Graham has loaned his campaign $4.5 million since entering the race in October.

Folwell’s campaign reported spending $896,100 during the truncated reporting period and collecting $94,700.

Robinson’s campaign reported raising $716,900 during the period and spending $563,200. The campaign’s finances include no personal loans.

Robinson, who has support from former President Donald Trump, had $4.4 million in his campaign coffers entering the primary campaign’s final weeks. That was second only to Stein’s campaign, who reported having $12.7 million. Both primary frontrunners have accumulated funds in part to prepare for a general election contest.

Stein’s chief rival in the Democratic primary is former state Supreme Court Associate Justice Mike Morgan. His campaign had $44,300 in cash entering the primary’s final weeks.