Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose campaign for governor in 2024 was derailed by a series of controversies and scandals, said Friday he would not run for U.S. Senate in 2026.
Robinson, a Republican, said in a statement he “will not run next year, nor do I have plans to seek elected office in the future.” And he said he was dropping a defamation lawsuit he filed against CNN during his campaign.
Robinson filed a motion to dismiss the case on Friday, according to federal court documents.
“I will continue to utilize my platform to promote and support many of the issues we are all so passionate about; however, at this time, I will do so from the sidelines,” Robinson said.
He came up well short against Gov. Josh Stein in his 2024 race, after a series of scandals — including the CNN investigation that revealed a history of offensive posts online — spurred Republicans to abandon his campaign. But he had remained a prominent potential primary challenger to U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026.
“Until we change the hearts and souls of those inside the political arena, it is unlikely the political process itself will undergo any meaningful change,” Robinson said.
He said continuing his suit against CNN was a “futile effort” and that he had instructed his attorney — Jesse Binnall — to drop the case.
“The fact of the matter is this: the price we have paid in entering the political arena will never be recognized,” Robinson said. “There is no dollar amount high enough.”
Robinson and Binnall had alleged that CNN’s investigation, which linked the lieutenant governor to a series of posts online calling himself a “black NAZI” among other remarks, was defamatory and amounted to “election interference.” He failed to present any evidence that he had not made the posts online.
Tillis’ Senate race — the most prominent seat up for grabs in North Carolina next year — will still be heavily contested. He already has one challenger — Andy Nilsson, a retired businessman and former candidate for lieutenant governor.