Mark Robinson (American politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Robinson
35th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office January 9, 2021 – January 1, 2025
Governor	Roy Cooper
Preceded by	Dan Forest
Succeeded by	Rachel Hunt
Personal details
Born	Mark Keith Robinson (1968-08-18) August 18, 1968 (age 56) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Yolanda Hill ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	2
Education	University of North Carolina at Greensboro (BA)
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Unit	Army Reserve

Mark Keith Robinson (born August 18, 1968) is an American politician. He served as the 35th lieutenant governor of North Carolina from 2021 to 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Robinson was the first Black lieutenant governor of North Carolina. He was also the first Black person nominated by a major party for governor in the state. Before politics, he worked in furniture making. He began his political journey in the 2020 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election. He won against Democratic state representative Yvonne Lewis Holley.

Later, Robinson ran for governor. He won the Republican nomination. However, he lost the general election to Democratic state attorney general Josh Stein. Robinson is known for making strong and sometimes controversial statements.

Early Life and Education

Mark Robinson was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the ninth of ten children. Robinson has shared that his family faced difficult times when he was young. He and his siblings lived in foster care for a while. They later moved back with their mother.

After high school, he joined the Army Reserve. He then worked in several furniture factories. He also started studying history at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

How Mark Robinson Entered Politics

Robinson became interested in American conservative politics after reading a book by Rush Limbaugh. He realized he had always been conservative.

In April 2018, Robinson spoke at a Greensboro City Council meeting. They were discussing a gun show. Robinson spoke strongly in favor of gun rights. A video of his speech became very popular online. It was shared widely on Facebook.

After this, Robinson left college and his job. He focused on public speaking. He was even invited to speak at the National Rifle Association of America's yearly meeting.

Running for Lieutenant Governor in 2020

Mark Robinson decided to run for lieutenant governor of North Carolina in 2020. He won the Republican nomination. He beat several other candidates, including state senator Andy Wells.

In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee Yvonne Lewis Holley. This election was historic. Either Robinson or Holley would become North Carolina's first African-American lieutenant governor. Robinson won the election. He became the second Black person elected to the North Carolina Council of State.

Serving as Lieutenant Governor

The Hawkins-Hartness House, the official office of the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

Robinson took office on January 9, 2021. As lieutenant governor, he had specific duties. He could lead sessions of the North Carolina Senate. He also served on several state boards. These included the State Board of Education.

In 2023, Robinson helped pass a law. It created the North Carolina Medal of Valor. This medal honors law enforcement officers. His office became responsible for giving out this award.

FACTS Task Force on Education

After becoming lieutenant governor, Robinson focused on education. He was interested in what materials were used in schools. On March 26, 2021, he started the FACTS Task Force. FACTS stands for Fairness, Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students.

This group was set up to receive reports. These reports were about political bias in public schools. The task force grew to 15 members. It released a report in August 2021. The report included complaints about lessons on race and LGBTQ rights.

Running for Governor in 2024

On April 22, 2023, Robinson announced he would run for governor. He sought the Republican nomination. Former President Donald Trump supported Robinson's campaign.

On March 5, 2024, Robinson won the Republican primary. This made him the first Black person to win a major party nomination for governor in North Carolina. In his victory speech, he spoke about his humble beginnings. He also talked about his goal to improve the state's economy.

Robinson lost the general election for governor. He was defeated by Democrat Josh Stein.

Political Views and Public Statements

Mark Robinson is known for his strong conservative views. He often speaks about social issues. He has different ideas about education. For example, he has suggested changes to what is taught in early grades. He also wants to expand charter schools.

Some of his past comments have caused concern. These include statements about Jewish people and the Holocaust. Robinson has said that some of his past online posts were "poorly worded." He has apologized for the wording of some comments. He says they did not show his true feelings.

He has also made comments about other social topics. These statements have sometimes drawn criticism.

Personal Life

Mark Robinson married Yolanda Dechelle Hill in 1990. They have two children. They live in High Point, North Carolina. He identifies as an evangelical Christian. He has been invited to speak at churches.

Electoral History

Images for kids

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  Map of the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election results.

See also

• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
• List of lieutenant governors of North Carolina
• List of African-American Republicans