North Carolina's Republican lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, has announced his candidacy for the position of governor in a tweet on April 24, 2023. Robinson, the first African American to hold his post, gained notoriety in 2018 after a speech he made defending gun rights went viral. Since then, he has been a vocal advocate for the Second Amendment and has clashed with the state's current governor, Roy Cooper, on various issues.

Robinson's national profile has been on the rise. He has recently released a book and served as a featured speaker at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting's legislative leadership forum in Houston, Texas, alongside notable figures such as Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and Ted Cruz. Robinson also serves as a board member for the National Rifle Association.

Shortly after announcing his candidacy for governor, Robinson made headlines for a video in which he criticized the transgender movement and those who identify as something other than what "god made them." Robinson's announcement puts him in the running against Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell in the 2024 gubernatorial race in North Carolina.

Stein responded to Robinson’s announcement via Twitter, “Mark Robinson just announced he’s running for Governor. Robinson is wrong for North Carolina.”

Another video has resurfaced featuring North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, in which he tells black people that they "owe" reparations. Speaking at the 2021 North Carolina Republican Party State Convention, Robinson recalled a story in which he angered a liberal by saying "nobody owes you anything for slavery." Robinson then explained that he believes black people owe reparations, citing the sacrifices made by previous generations for their descendants.