MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — While campaigning for governor, North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson suffered second-degree burns on Friday night at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mount Airy, according to his campaign spokesperson, Mike Lonergan.
Robinson was taken to Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy for treatment of his injuries. Despite the incident, Lonergan reported that Robinson is doing well, feeling optimistic, and looks forward to continuing his campaign as planned on Saturday morning.
Lonergan did not provide specific details regarding how or where the burns occurred. Beginning his day with the Moore County Republicans, Robinson had been making several campaign stops leading up to the truck show and is scheduled for four events on Saturday.
As the lieutenant governor since 2021, Robinson is competing against Democratic nominee Josh Stein, who currently serves as the state’s attorney general. The incumbent governor, Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is unable to run this fall due to term limits.
Recently, numerous Republicans have distanced themselves from Robinson following a CNN report published on September 19. The report alleged that he posted controversial racial and sexual remarks on an online forum, leading to the resignation of a dozen staff members from his campaign and Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Robinson has faced scrutiny for making provocative comments in the past. He has denied authorship of the messages in question, which date back over a decade, and has engaged a law firm to conduct an investigation into the allegations.
Mount Airy, located about 100 miles (161 kilometers) north of Charlotte near the Virginia border, is famously known as the hometown of the late television icon Andy Griffith. The town inspired the fictional Mayberry featured in “The Andy Griffith Show,” a beloved series from the 1960s. The community has embraced its heritage, hosting events and festivals that celebrate this history.
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