This November, North Carolinians will make a choice: move forward into the future with someone who cares about all North Carolinians or get dragged back into the past with someone who is obsessed with fighting culture wars. The North Carolina gubernatorial race between the Democratic nominee, Attorney General Josh Stein, and the Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, is the highest profile gubernatorial race in the country this cycle, so it’s important we understand the stakes.
For those of you who have no idea who Robinson is, strap in because this man is quite the character. Robinson’s greatest hits include calling queer people “filth,” claiming that abortion exists because women aren’t responsible enough to keep their skirts down and calling himself a “black Nazi” on racial porn sites. Unfortunately, these quotes only scratch the surface of all of the horrific things Robinson has said about our fellow North Carolinians. Fortunately, we, as young voters, have a great alternative option: someone committed to public service and dedicated to strengthening our state.
As attorney general, Stein cleared the largest backlog of untested sexual assault kits in the country, allowing the evidence from these kits to be used in investigations and putting perpetrators behind bars. He led a bipartisan group of attorneys general nationwide to sue drug companies that fueled the opioid crisis, winning a settlement worth over $50 billion. Nearly $1.5 billion was given to North Carolina to “fund addiction prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction programs.” Furthermore, Stein has aggressively prosecuted businesses found to be price-gouging during states of emergency and taking advantage of people’s desperation. Stein’s record as attorney general has been stellar, safeguarding our rights and making sure North Carolina lives up to its promise of opportunity and justice, something he will continue to do as governor.
Stein also understands that when we support our public school teachers, they can better support their students. Stein has proposed a “Ready. Set. Save!” back-to-school plan, which would reinstate a sales tax-free holiday weekend in August, lowering costs for both teachers and families. In addition, it would provide teachers with a stipend to cover out-of-pocket expenses on school supplies, as well as universal school meals for all public school students. Furthermore, Stein supports a “Working Families Tax Cut,” a cut which will save individuals on average $500 per year, and $1,500 for families with three or more children. Teachers across North Carolina are working miracles despite the lack of support they get from our Republican-controlled General Assembly, and if Stein becomes governor, he will ensure educators get the support they deserve. All of these policies are a part of Stein’s plan to build a North Carolina that is safer, stronger and more prosperous for everyone.
Abortion is another key issue in this election, and again, the difference between Robinson and Stein couldn’t be clearer. In September, Robinson was caught on audio saying that he wants abortion to be illegal at zero weeks, without exceptions for rape, incest or even the life of the mother. Later in the audio, he says, “There’s no reason why an abortion should happen ever,” a statement that I believe should disqualify him for governorship.
A woman’s ability to make her own healthcare decisions is a fundamental right and a decision that is made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians. As attorney general, Stein has filed briefs in support of abortion rights and medication abortion. He supports the protections granted by Roe v. Wade, and as governor, he will protect access to contraception, IVF and abortion, and will veto any further attempts to criminalize women’s reproductive freedom.
North Carolina is at a crossroads, and we have an opportunity to choose the path we will follow for the next four years and beyond. Robinson is an extremist whose policies will turn this state into “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and whose temperament is not fit to be the standard-bearer of North Carolina. In contrast, Stein has spent his whole life making the lives of his constituents better and working across the aisle to do so.
Whether it’s his work ending the biggest sexual assault backlog kit in the nation or holding drug companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis, Stein will work for you. Wake Forest students, we must decide if we want a governor who is focused on solving real problems or one who prioritizes stoking culture wars. The path forward is clear: Josh Stein is the obvious choice to lead us into a brighter future.
