In announcing run for NC governor, Democrat Josh Stein goes on the offensive | Opinion

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is running for governor — and he’s making it clear right away that he’s not Mark Robinson.

Stein, a Democrat, had long been expected to run in 2024, and he made it official Wednesday with a compelling video that suggests he understands just how important this race is.

Stein didn’t hesitate to go on the offensive against Robinson, the Republican lieutenant governor who has all but confirmed his own plans to run. The video highlighted some of the worst of Robinson’s rhetoric, including clips where he says women are “called to be led by men,” refers to homosexuality as “filth” and calls abortion a “scourge that needs to be run out this land.”

With his role as lieutenant governor largely a symbolic one, Robinson is perhaps most known for traveling to churches across the state and delivering hate-filled sermons that regularly bring him attention and headlines. Stein further differentiated himself from Robinson by invoking his own beliefs, saying “my faith teaches me that we’re all children of God, and that we’re called to make a difference.” (Of note: Stein is Jewish, and Robinson has a history of antisemitic comments for which he has refused to apologize.)

With , North Carolina faces important decision to make, and voters will likely have two very different candidates on the general election ballot.

If Stein wants to be the next governor of North Carolina — incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper unable to run again due to term limits — he needs to wage a bold, aggressive campaign that sharply contrasts himself from his opponent. Robinson, with his history of disparaging remarks, has enough public baggage to fuel Stein’s entire campaign. That could be difficult for Robinson — and his fellow Republicans — to escape, especially if Stein continues to apply the pressure.

“Robinson wants to tell you who you can marry, when you’ll be pregnant and who you should hate,” Stein said in the video. “I’m running for governor because I believe in a very different North Carolina.”

A successful candidate, however, does more than just campaign against the opposition. Democrats have lost statewide in North Carolina because they failed to give voters an affirmative reason to vote. Stein, with two statewide victories already under his belt, has accomplishments to tout on the campaign trail, and his announcement video touched on many of them, underscoring his track record as attorney general and outlining his vision for the future. Defining yourself is a critical part of going on offense — and the winning candidate will need to do so early and often for North Carolina voters.

The 2024 election is, of course, 657 days away. Stein’s early entry into the race may seem premature, but is perhaps strategic. Being the first to announce helps Stein frame the race for voters, and he is clearly choosing to portray it as a fight over shared values and the state’s future, placing himself in contrast of “politicians who spark division, ignite hate and fan the flames of bigotry.”

This election will almost certainly be a contentious one, and there are questions about whether the polished Stein has the grit to go toe-to-toe with a firebrand like Robinson. Stein’s success — and North Carolina’s future — may very well depend on his ability to step outside of his comfort zone. His announcement suggests that Stein is willing to accept that challenge.

This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 11:51 AM.