Josh Stein continues to outraise, outspend Mark Robinson in North Carolina governor’s race, new financial reporting shows

RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — Spending in the North Carolina governor’s race is ramping up, according to financial reporting for the second quarter of 2024.

It was projected early on in the race that the gubernatorial bout between Democrat Josh Stein, sitting attorney general, and Republican Mark Robinson, sitting lieutenant governor, would be one of the most expensive in the nation .

Certainly, the numbers appear to be painting that picture.

Both candidates turned in financial disclosures to the North Carolina State Board of Elections in mid-July, reporting receipts and expenditures from late February through the end of June.

At the beginning of the quarter, Robinson had $4.4 million, and, after all of his receipts and expenditures, he ended the quarter with $6.5 million.

Stein started the quarter at $12.7 million on hand and ended the quarter with $15.9 million on hand.

Notable donations to the Stein campaign in the second quarter include two separate party contributions from the NC Democrats Leadership Committee, one for $37,500 and another for $22,700.47. As far as individual contributions, he received $12,800 from an executive at Capitol Broadcasting Company, $6,400 from someone identifying as a lobbyist from an advocacy firm called Platinum Advisors , and $6,400 from the CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic , who pledged to spend millions in North Carolina this election cycle.

In Robinson's camp, the lieutenant governor received a party contribution of $25,000 from the NC Republican Council of State Committee, $6,400 from the CEO of Smart Choice, a Triad-based insurance brokerage company and $6,400 from someone identified as an executive of Hendrick Automotive Group.

Robinson also received two separate $3,200 donations from the director of Charter One , an "all-inclusive education management" company that has several charter schools in North Carolina. Robinson's wife Yolanda Hill sits on the board of at least one of Charter One's schools . Robinson has been a long-time supporter of charter schools, and in 2023 he initially failed to report his wife's connection to another charter school, Revolution Academy , in his financial reporting, according to WBTV.

Throughout the entire election cycle, Robinson's financial documents say he's raised around $15.7 million, spending around $9.2 million on various expenses. Stein, on the other hand, reports raising a total of $32.9 million, spending around $17.2 million on various expenses.

Libertarian Candidate Mike Ross has not submitted his second-quarter financial disclosures to the North Carolina State Board of Elections as of Wednesday.

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