Democratic North Carolina gubernatorial nominee Josh Stein is touting praise from across the aisle.
Stein, the state’s sitting attorney general, is running for governor against Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is nearing the end of his second term and the law prevents him from serving a third term.
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Stein’s campaign announced Wednesday that he’s received the endorsement of Republican former State Sen. Richard Stevens and other Republican leaders, including:
Cabarrus County Commissioner Steve Morris
Stanly County Commissioner Peter Asciutto
Former State Sen. Jim Davis
Former State Rep. Chuck McGrady
Former State Rep. Chuck Neely.
Stein plans to unveil a list of endorsements by more than 50 current and former Republicans during a press conference on Thursday morning in Raleigh.
“As North Carolinians, we have more in common than what divides us,” Stein said in a statement. “We all want strong schools, safe communities, and meaningful job opportunities. And no party has a monopoly on good ideas to achieve these goals. When we work together to fight for them, we accomplish more for the people of North Carolina. If you share the same conviction, there is a home for you in this campaign, whether you’re a Democratic, Republican or Unaffiliated voter.”
When asked for comment, Robinson campaign spokesman Mike Lonergan said: “Why don’t you report something of consequence for a change?”
Stevens, a former county manager for Wake County, served five terms in the state legislature before resigning in 2012. Republican leaders picked Stevens to be budget chairman after they gained a majority of the General Assembly in 2011.
Upon his departure from the legislature, Republican Senate leader Phil Berger praised Stevens as "a dedicated public servant whose budgetary expertise, tireless work ethic and ability to work across the aisle made him a successful and effective legislator.”
Stein’s announcement comes a week after a WRAL News Poll found growing support for Stein among conservatives. Twenty percent of conservative voters supported Stein in the latest WRAL poll, up from 14% in a March WRAL poll. Of the respondents who said they plan to vote for former president Donald Trump in the presidential election, 11% said they’ll vote for Stein in the gubernatorial race.
The poll showed Stein with a 14-percentage-point lead over Robinson among all respondents.