RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Former president Donald Trump maintains a slight lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in North Carolina, but state attorney general Josh Stein has taken a large lead over Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor’s race, a new Eastern Carolina University poll shows.
In the poll, which was conducted from Sept. 23 to Sept. 26, Trump leads Harris by two points, 49% to 47%.
2% of voters are undecided and 2% say they will support another candidate. Trump led Harris by one point, 48% to 47%, in last month’s poll.
While the presidential race in the Tar Heel state has seen little change, the poll shows Stein now leading Robinson 50% to 33%. 13% of voters are undecided and 4% say they will support another candidate. In last month’s poll, Stein led Robinson by six points, 47% to 41%.
Stein’s significant polling lead comes after a CNN report linked Robinson to several offensive comments on a pornographic website. Although Robinson has denied making the comments and dismissed calls to withdraw from the race, the scandal has cost him support from many prominent Republicans.
According to the poll, Robinson’s support has dropped from 83% to 63% with Republicans, 32% to 30% with independents, 52% to 42% with white voters, and 9% to 6% with Black voters. Stein now leads Robinson among men 45% to 40%, flipping Robinson’s lead from the last poll, and his 54% to 27% lead among women marks an increase from the last poll.
“The recent scandals surrounding Mark Robinson have had a major impact,” said Peter Francia, the director of the ECU Center for Survey Research, in a statement. “What was once a competitive race in the election for governor of North Carolina no longer is. As of now, Josh Stein is the clear and overwhelming favorite to be the next governor of North Carolina.”
In the presidential race, the poll shows Trump leading Harris among men (56% to 40%) and white voters (66% to 32%). Harris leads Trump among women (54% to 44%) and Black voters (90% to 7%).
North Carolina is among the states expected to decide the 2024 presidential election, with both candidates making frequent appearances in the Tar Heel State. A Democratic presidential candidate has not won North Carolina since Barack Obama in 2008. Trump won North Carolina by 1.35% in 2020, the smallest margin among the states he carried.