For voters disillusioned with Republican candidate Mark Robinson after a series of scandals, this year鈥檚 election for governor offers more third-party alternatives than previous campaigns.
In addition to Robinson and Democrat Josh Stein, the ballot features Libertarian Mike Ross, Constitution Party candidate Vinny Smith and Green Party candidate Wayne Turner.
While Turner鈥檚 candidacy likely draws voters from the left who might otherwise back Stein, Ross and Smith could attract voters who typically cast their ballots for Republicans.
Ross says he saw an uptick in interest in his campaign following news stories about Robinson, including the CNN report that he posted pro-slavery, Nazi comments on a pornographic website.
鈥淭here was certainly some outreach to emails, social (media), of people giving me a second look,鈥� Ross said, adding that he also has supporters who aren鈥檛 happy with Stein鈥檚 record on criminal justice issues.
Ross is a financial planner for Gaston County who鈥檚 been involved in activist movements around homelessness and criminal justice issues.
He said he鈥檚 been frustrated by the major parties鈥� campaigns for governor, which haven鈥檛 included much focus on policy issues where he鈥檇 get opportunities to put forward a Libertarian alternative.
鈥淚 wanted to be talking about ways we can think outside the box and put forward policy that will make the lives of North Carolinians better while protecting our God-given rights and freedoms,鈥� Ross said, 鈥渁nd the sad reality is this campaign has largely turned into an attack ad.鈥�
While it鈥檚 clear from polling that many Republican voters have abandoned Robinson even as they continue to support former President Donald Trump, it鈥檚 hard to tell how many are now backing Ross or Smith.
鈥淚n polling, especially for third parties, we're usually not even included,鈥� said Ross, adding that he has 鈥渘o idea how it's going to turn out, but I'm pretty optimistic that I will do better than we did in 2020 and hopefully set a record.鈥�
A was one of the few to list all candidates on the ballot 鈥� rather than give voters surveyed the choice of Robinson, Stein or 鈥渟omeone else.鈥� It found 2.5% of likely voters backing Ross, which would be more than the 1% that the Libertarian candidate for governor received in 2020.
Only 0.3% of the likely voters surveyed by Carolina Journal said they鈥檙e voting for Smith. The Constitution Party, which emphasizes conservative views on gun rights, abortion and taxes, only obtained ballot access within the past few months after a series of petition hurdles.
Conservative blogger Brant Clifton encouraged readers of his popular this year.
鈥淥n its face, The Constitution Party looks like a safe place for principled conservatives to park their votes and express their displeasure with the antics of the Raleigh establishment,鈥� Clifton wrote. His site now features a banner ad promoting Smith鈥檚 campaign.
In an interview with 深夜福利, Smith had little to say about Robinson鈥檚 struggles. He said his supporters are more concerned by the millions of dollars in outside spending funding the major party candidates for governor.
鈥淚 always say that I'm not taking any money from any special interests, no PACs or super PACs, and I think that's something that the people really hold on to,鈥� Smith said.
Smith is a former naval intelligence officer who owns an esports business and lives in Chatham County. He鈥檚 optimistic that his campaign for governor will hit the threshold for the Constitution Party to keep its ballot access 鈥� something its candidates were unable to do in 2020.
鈥淚 have to pull 2% in the governor's race, and then, if I do so, then we maintain our ballot access, which then enables us to now build the party up, instead of having to go back and petition again, and to get ready for midterms,鈥� he said.
So far though, polling indicates that many Republican voters are skipping over third-party candidates and throwing their support to Stein.
showed a 16-point lead for Stein, and the conservative news outlet wrote that 鈥渟upport for Stein overperforms support for (Kamala) Harris because 14% of those backing him also favor Trump in the presidential race.鈥�
