Embattled NC lt. gov. skips emergency vote as poll numbers go from bad to worse

02 October 2024

From millions of power outages to severe flooding to more than 120 deaths, Hurricane Helene has inflicted considerable destruction on the southeastern United States — including Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Areas of North Carolina have been hit hard. And far-right North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has asked term-limited Democratic Roy Cooper to deploy additional resources to the western part of the state.

But according to Paul Specht, a reporter for WRAL News in Raleigh, Robinson — who is North Carolina's 2024 GOP gubernatorial nominee — did not vote on Cooper's request for a declaration of emergency.

Robinson, according to Specht, is one of nine members of the North Carolina Council of State.

"Within an hour of making the request on September 24 — before Helene ravaged the western part of the state — most of the council had responded with supporting votes," Specht reports in an article published in early October. "But come 9 a.m. the next morning, one member had yet to cast a vote: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor…. Despite not weighing in on the emergency declaration, Robinson has spent recent days needling the Democratic governor to do more."

Specht continues, "On Sunday, he called on Cooper to send more resources and National Guard personnel to lead additional search-and-rescue teams. In a social media post on Tuesday, he added: 'North Carolina must follow the lead of successful governors like (Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis). Cut the red tape. Stop waiting on federal resources and allow private industry in to assist with rescue and recovery efforts, and repair infrastructure immediately.'"

The WRAL reporter notes that Robinson and Cooper "have long had a frosty relationship."

Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, has been highly critical of Robinson for not voting on the emergency declaration, saying, "It's inexcusable in a time of crisis."

This controversy comes at a time when the embattled Robinson appears to be losing North Carolina's gubernatorial election to State Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee.

A Washington Post poll released on October 1 finds Stein leading Robinson by 16 percent. And an East Carolina University poll conducted in late September showed Stein with a 17-point lead.

Read WRAL's full article at this link.

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