Josh Stein has won North Carolina’s gubernatorial election.
The Associated Press officially called the race at of 8:50 p.m., though CNN had previously called the race at 8:32 p.m.
As of 8:38 p.m., Stein had won 53.48% of the vote, according to the NCSBE. His opponent, Mark Robinson had won 42.01%.
Polls showed Stein holding a double-digit lead in the final weeks of the campaign as Robinson battled fallout from a bombshell CNN report alleging he made lewd, explicit and racist comments on a pornography website. The governor’s race has been one of this cycle’s most closely watched statewide races.
Stein has served as attorney general since 2017 and was previously a state senator from 2009 to 2017. He will be North Carolina’s first Jewish governor.
He will succeed term-limited incumbent Roy Cooper, also a Democrat, on Jan. 1, 2025. Cooper was Stein’s predecessor as attorney general, and Stein previously served under him as deputy attorney general for consumer protection.
Stein campaigned heavily on reproductive rights, including access to IVF, contraception and abortion. His platform also emphasized improving public education, workforce development, public safety, affordable housing and the economy.
This is the third N.C. gubernatorial election in a row to be won by a Democrat. Democrats have won six of the last seven gubernatorial elections, with the exception of former Gov. Pat McCrory’s 2012 victory.
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Samanyu Gangappa is a Trinity sophomore and local/national news editor for the news department.
Zoe Kolenovsky is a Trinity junior and news editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.