Robinson backing Weatherman in GOP runoff for NC lieutenant governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is weighing in on who he wants to see win his party’s runoff next month to be the nominee for lieutenant governor.

Robinson, who is running for governor this year, told a crowd of supporters he’s voting for Hal Weatherman, according to a video clip posted on Facebook in late March.

Weatherman faces Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill in the runoff election on May 14.

“Now, I’m not telling you who to vote for. I’m just telling you who I’m gonna vote for when I go. The only person that I’m in support of being lieutenant governor is standing right over here,” said Robinson, gesturing to Weatherman.

Robinson went on to say he and Weatherman, who served as chief of staff to former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, have had a “great relationship” since 2018.

“I have not made a public endorsement of him, but he certainly is a guy that I would love to see in that seat. Talk to your friends, when they ask you about that race, you can tell them that’s the guy that I’m gonna vote for and I hope that you do too,” Robinson said.

CBS 17 has reached out to Weatherman’s and O’Neill’s campaigns for comment.

This is Weatherman’s first campaign for statewide office. O’Neill previously ran for attorney general in 2020, narrowly losing to Democrat Josh Stein.

Weatherman was the top vote-getter in the initial 11-candidate primary on March 5, but he fell short of the 30-percent threshold necessary to avoid a runoff.

The winner of the runoff will face Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt in November.

“It’s no surprise that an extreme politician like Mark Robinson is throwing his support behind a running mate like Hal Weatherman who wants to ban abortion, defund public education, and wreak havoc on North Carolina’s economy,” said Kevin Holst, executive director of the Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association. “Hal Weatherman is looking to continue the dangerous Mark Robinson legacy in the Lt. Governor’s office, which is why Rachel Hunt is the only candidate for the job

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