North Carolina gubernatorial candidate misses Sioux Falls event to help in flood recovery

Mark Robinson's slated appearance had drawn controversy over alleged past remarks

North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. (Lynn Hey/For WUNC)

An event originally scheduled to feature North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as the headline was forced to carry on without him, as the 56-year-old candidate for governor stayed home to help with flood recovery.

Toby Doeden, head of Dakota First Action, confirmed to The Dakota Scout Tuesday evening that the Republican candidate for governor would be unable to make the group’s first ever “Victory Gala,” billed as the state’s largest gathering of conservatives.

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Instead, Robinson is in western North Carolina helping victims recover from record flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm ravaged a number of states along the East Coast, including parts of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Portions of Asheville, the largest city in western North Carolina, were completely under water — with the death toll well over 100 people and rising.

Robinson’s absence Tuesday evening, which came alongside a small protest outside The District — where the event was being held in southern Sioux Falls — had been scrutinized by local activists. According to a report by CNN last week, Robinson allegedly made numerous posts to a blog on a pornographic website several years ago that have been perceived as racist and anti-semitic. In one post, Robinson referred to himself as a “black Nazi,” while others shared similarly controversial viewpoints.

Robinson has denied that he made the posts and enlisted a legal team to investigate their origins. Polling since the posts came to light show him at a disadvantage in the governor’s race against North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein.

Instead of attending as the marquee speaker, Robinson prerecorded a video message for the event. That will play alongside speeches from Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs, as well as other national conservative activists.

Robinson’s office confirmed to The Scout that his priority was his constituents in his home state, many of whom were still without working utilities or basic supplies. Robinson’s social media feeds shows him helping to coordinate recovery efforts.

“His priority remains his constituents,” a spokeswoman in his lieutenant governor’s office said.

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