(The Center Square) – Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, front-runner in the polls and by the North Carolina Democratic Party before he even announced intention, has filed to run for governor.
The first-term Republican registered on the penultimate day available, according to his social media page. At close of business and time of this publication, the state board’s last update was at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.
The deadline to file is noon Friday.
Robinson’s entry is the third for the GOP primary. He joins state Treasurer Dale Folwell and Bill Graham. Democrats filed include state Attorney General Josh Stein, former state Supreme Court Judge Mike Morgan, Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams and Gary Foxx. Libertarian Shannon Bray and Wayne Turner of the Green Party have also filed.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is in his second four-year term, the limit of consecutive terms allowed.
The primary is part of Super Tuesday on March 5. The general election is Nov. 5.
Other filings updated on the state Board of Elections website on Thursday included Republican Chris Maples for U.S. House District 8.
North Carolinians will elect 14 members to the U.S. House of Representatives for two-year terms. Five congressmen are not running for reelection. The U.S. Senate seats are not on the ballot again until 2026 (Sen. Thom Tillis) and 2028 (Sen. Ted Budd).
All 170 seats in the General Assembly (two-year terms) will be on the ballot, as are the 10 Council of State offices (four-year terms). This includes, in addition to the governor, the lieutenant governor; attorney general; commissioners of agriculture and insurance; the secretaries of state and labor; auditor; treasurer; and superintendent of public instruction.
Change is coming to the Cabinet. In addition to the governor, there will be a new lieutenant governor, attorney general, labor commissioner and treasurer.
The auditor position changes Friday, when Jessica Holmes’ appointment to fill the remainder of Beth Wood’s term begins. Wood, a fourth-term Democrat, announced her resignation last month and Holmes has filed to win the seat through the 2024 election.