Will there be a debate in NC governor’s race? Robinson pushes for one, but Stein declines

With less than 50 days until Election Day, there are no concrete plans for a televised debate in North Carolina’s gubernatorial race.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee who trails by significant margins in recent polling, pushed for one in a video released on social media Tuesday and directed at his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Josh Stein.

“I’ve already agreed to the Spectrum debate, I’ve already given them multiple dates,” Robinson said during the video, in which he calls Stein a “liar” and “cowardly.” “You have not answered.”

Spectrum News 1 in North Carolina has extended an invitation to both candidates, the network confirmed to NC Newsline. As of Tuesday, no debate has been confirmed.

Stein, asked by reporters at a campaign event earlier this month if he would debate Robinson, said he expected to.

“I expect so,” Stein said in Franklinton on Sept. 3. “But it remains to be seen.”

But in a statement Tuesday, his campaign said he would not participate.

“Mark Robinson has spent his entire public life spewing hate, lying about his record, and spreading dangerous and false conspiracy theories,” spokesperson Kate Frauenfelder said. “A debate would only serve to legitimize him and provide a platform for his vile and dangerous rhetoric, and we won’t be part of that.”

Stein’s campaign said they planned to schedule one-on-one interviews with the press in the coming weeks until the election, as he continues to campaign.

After Stein declined to debate, Robinson spokesperson Mike Lonergan turned to criticize the AG’s planned campaign event Wednesday with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Beshea has previously said U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance should have to “go through” a pregnancy resulting from rape. Lonergan said Stein was “hiding behind so-called ‘vile and dangerous rhetoric’ as he prepared to take the stage with a man who called for someone to be raped.”

“Josh Stein’s campaign appearance with Beshear shows what a vile and shameless campaign they are running,” Lonergan said in a statement.