Who is Mark Robinson? The GOP nominee for North Carolina governor has a history of inflammatory remarks

Washington — When Mark Robinson, the lieutenant governor of North Carolina, took the podium earlier this month after winning the Republican nomination for governor, he pledged not to allow his campaign to be dragged "into the mud." But in the two weeks since the primary, inflammatory remarks he's made on a range of topics have been rapidly resurfacing, flagged by reporters and opponents.

Robinson's inflammatory comments have spanned a number of topics, but he's been especially vocal on LGBTQ+ issues. At a church service last year, Robinson said he feels "sick" when he sees a church flying a rainbow pride flag, which he called "a direct spit in the face of God almighty." He's said that there's no reason that children should be taught about "transgenderism, homosexuality — any of that filth." He also said that "if there's a movement in this country that is demonic and that is full of the spirit of antichrist, it is the transgender movement." And he's claimed that "we have pushed homosexuality over the top," predicting in a Facebook post, "Mark my words PEDOPHILLA is next, which will be closely followed by the END of civilization as we know it."

He has also made multiple derogatory comments about Islam, among them, expressing disappointment that religious freedom applies to Muslims and claiming that "Radical" Muslims "like cuttin' folks into pieces."