Robinson: Republicans ‘were right about HB2’ in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) said Republicans “were right about HB2” as he spoke to supporters at a recent campaign event.

Robinson made the comments at a private lunch hosted by RNC National Committeeman Ed Broyhill. Broyhill posted an 18-minute video of Robinson’s remarks on YouTube last week .

Robinson, who is running for governor, was referring to the controversial House Bill 2, which the Republican-led General Assembly passed in 2016. It required people to use the bathroom that corresponded to their sex at birth and blocked municipalities from passing non-discrimination ordinances.

The law sparked national backlash as some companies dropped plans to bring jobs to the state and some major events, such as the NBA All-Star Game, were moved out of North Carolina.

A few months after Gov. Roy Cooper (D) was elected in 2016, the legislature repealed the law. An Associated Press analysis at the time found the law cost the state more than $3.76 billion over 12 years in lost business.

“We were right about HB2. We told them. You start letting these men go in these bathrooms, the next thing you know. What’s the next step after that? That’s exactly what we said. What’s the next step after that? Guess what the next step was: your daughter losing her scholarship to a biological man in swimming, volleyball, basketball,” Robinson said. “We were right on HB2 and continue to be right on it. The ideas that the left has is a bunch of foolishness. We don’t need to be ashamed to say it.”

Robinson’s comments on HB2 came as he was trying to draw a contrast with Democrats, including his opponent in the race Atty. Gen. Josh Stein. Robinson said his campaign would focus on issues like lowering taxes, improving the business climate and education, while he said “the left” would “try to drag him into issues” like House Bill 2.

“These folks are coming after you. I say, ‘I’m not worried about them.’ They say, ‘Well, you don’t look worried. Why are you not worried?’ Why in the world should I be worried about what somebody who thinks that there’s 257 genders thinks of me? I don’t care what you think of me. I don’t care,” said Robinson.

When asked if Robinson would support reinstating provisions of House Bill 2, campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan said, “Radical leftists like Joe Biden and Josh Stein want to force women and girls to share restrooms and locker rooms with men. That’s dangerous and extreme. As governor, Mark Robinson will not allow that to happen. It’s just common sense.”

Stein campaign spokesperson Morgan Hopkins responded, “Mark Robinson would repeat the failures of HB2: thousands of jobs lost, companies fleeing the state, and billions in losses for North Carolina’s economy. We’ve been down this road before, and it’s a dead end. Josh Stein’s vision for North Carolina is forward-looking and will create a welcoming economic climate for workers and businesses.”

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