In purple North Carolina, Democrats hope to defeat a MAGA candidate for governor even as the presidential race remains close

Voters in North Carolina seem equally split between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. But in the governor’s race, they appear to be leaning toward the Democrats.

Four years ago, North Carolina voters handed Democrats one of the party’s toughest losses and one of its most consequential wins. Despite years of Democrats hoping that changing demographics in the fast-growing state would tip the presidential race, Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden here by 1 point, his narrowest winning margin in the country. But further down the ballot, voters reelected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has spent much of the next four years serving as a check on the Republican-controlled legislature and advancing priorities such as Medicaid expansion. With 54 days until the November election, voters in the Tar Heel State seem equally split this year. At the presidential level, Trump and Kamala Harris have increased their campaigning in the state, where both have made multiple visits and ramped up ad spending. On Thursday, Harris will return, rallying supporters in Charlotte and Greensboro. The race to succeed the term-limited Cooper, however, seems to be leaning toward the Democratic nominee, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Stein and his Democratic allies have covered the airways with millions of dollars worth of devastating TV ads highlighting Republican opponent Mark Robinson’s past remarks on abortion and a troubled day care center he and his wife ran in the early 2000s – spending the GOP hasn’t yet matched. Prominent state Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis and former Gov. Pat McCrory, have declined to endorse Robinson, the incumbent lieutenant governor. Democrats have a new presidential nominee who has energized the base, and recent polls have shown Stein edging toward a double-digit lead. But North Carolina is still a purple state with a history of elections decided by razor-thin margins. Democrats are hoping that Stein’s record as attorney general and his centrist, economy-focused campaign will win over voters, regardless of what happens at the presidential level. Republicans argue that Robinson’s focus on parental rights in schools will boost him and that conservatives will choose even a controversial Republican over a Democrat come November.