A new campaign manager, incendiary comments: What we know about Mark Robinson scandal

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

Embroiled in a national scandal, North Carolina's Republican nominee for governor, Mark Robinson, could soon have a new campaign manager after CNN investigation alleged he made racist and lewd comments on a pornographic website message board.

In its report, CNN connected the candidate to an account on the pornographic website Nude Africa through similar demographic information and writing style shared there and on his prominent social media profiles. The long list of comments from 2008 through 2012 includes the user condoning slavery and describing themselves as a "black NAZI!"

The report also alleged Robinson, who publicly said transgender people should be arrested for using the bathroom of their choice, said he enjoyed transgender pornography and recounted a story of him "peeping" into a women's gym shower when he was a teenager.

In a Facebook video and statement to USA TODAY, his campaign denied that the postings were from Robinson and claimed, without evidence, that the story came from his Democratic opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.

Robinson staying in the race

Despite heavy backlash, Robinson vowed not to drop out of the governor's race.

"Let me reassure you, the things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson," he said in the Facebook video posted Thursday. "We are staying in this race. We are in it to win it."

In a statement to USA TODAY, Stein's campaign said "Josh remains focused on winning this campaign so that together we can build a safer, stronger North Carolina for everyone."

Before the CNN report dropped, polls showed Stein already had a lead over Robinson. After it was published, The politics site Elections Daily shifted its prediction for the North Carolina governor's race from "leans Democratic" to "safe Democratic."

Controversy bleeds into presidential race

Aside from shaking up his own race, The Tar Heel State's lieutenant governor's alleged comments added a new angle of attack for the Kamala Harris campaign in its presidential contest against Donald Trump who endorsed Robinson in March.

The Harris campaign was quick to react to the CNN report, posting a video to social media that mockingly painted Trump and Robinson as "best friends" and highlighting Trump's past comments calling the lieutenant governor "Martin Luther King on steroids."

Trump avoided saying Robinson's name and did not acknowledge the governor's race at all during a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina Saturday, two days after CNN broke the story.

The Harris campaign confirmed the Democratic party will run billboard and television ads tying the former president to Robinson, hoping to chip away at Trump's support in North Carolina which has the potential to help sway the presidential election.

Robinson campaign turnover

Multiple Robinson campaign staff members have resigned over the scandal.

On Sunday, the Robinson campaign confirmed its campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, deputy campaign manager Jason Rizk, finance director Heather Whillier, and top adviser Conrad Pogorzelski had all stepped down.

"I appreciate the efforts of these team members who have made the difficult choice to step away from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors. I look forward to announcing new staff roles in the coming days," Robinson said in a statement shared with USA TODAY.

Later that evening, Jack Burkman announced he would be taking over as the campaign manager, but in an email sent to USA TODAY on Tuesday, Robinson's campaign said that was false.

Robinson wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that his campaign "looks forward to announcing additional staff roles soon."

Kinsey Crowley contributed to this story. Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Robinson scandal: Inside NC lieutenant governor's campaign chaos