"2024 North Carolina Governor's Race: A High-Stakes Showdown"

North Carolina is gearing up for a pivotal and expensive governor's race this fall, with Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson expected to advance to the general election. The race is expected to draw national attention due to the state's significance as a presidential battleground. Robinson's controversial statements on reproductive rights, education, and LGBTQ issues are being used by Democrats to paint him as extreme, while Republicans are looking to tie Stein to President Biden's unpopular image in the state. The race is further complicated by North Carolina's history of split-ticket voting, making it difficult to predict the outcome.