Stein, who will be the state’s first Jewish governor, has singled out improving the state’s schools as his top priority as he switches roles from attorney general. He will succeed current Democratic governor Roy Cooper, who could not seek re-election as his term expired. 

Though his win was anticipated by experts as the Robinson campaign crumbled in the wake of multiple scandals over the last few weeks, the vote was historic for North Carolina, which typically sees wins below a 4-point margin. Stein claimed a .

In September, as polls began showing favor for Stein, reported Robinson called himself a “Black Nazi” and said “slavery is not bad” on a porn site. His staffers quit and donations dried up. Former endorser President Donald Trump distanced himself.

Addressing supporters on election night after the race was called, moderate Stein rejected “hate” and re-emphasized his commitment to working across party lines for progress. 

“We have big challenges ahead, but we have even bigger dreams to realize,” . “…We must reject the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground. We will go further when we go together. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as independents, but as North Carolinians.”

For schools, Stein campaigned on plans to improve youth mental health by recruiting counselors, nurses and social workers; increasing teacher pay; expanding career and vocational education; and providing universal school meals. Stein was endorsed by the state’s teachers union. 

Robinson, in contrast, threatened to reject billions of federal funding for education and campaigned on expanding the voucher system that allows families to attend private schools with public funding. 

Robinson’s flare for hateful, anti-LGBTQ and misogynistic rhetoric, condemned by the NAACP, would have also likely fueled disrespect for educators, whom he called “,” and distrust for the department of education, which he had said he wanted to get rid of entirely. 

While electing Stein, voters split their ballots to support Trump, but also elected a Democratic schools chief, overlooking party affinities in the interest of their childrens’ education. Democrat Mo Green, a large-district superintendent, claimed victory early Wednesday morning for state superintendent, earning more votes than right-wing homeschooling advocate and January 6 insurrectionist . 

Governor-elect Stein grew up in Chapel Hill, a college town, before studying history, law and government. He taught English and economics in Zimbabwe and served as a state senator for seven years before becoming attorney general in 2017. 

Stein has also promised to protect abortion rights, in a state where Republican lawmakers are discussing restricting access with a 6-week ban. 

A critical seat in the state legislature also flipped Democrat this Election Day, , . The body may now be forced to negotiate more with Stein. 

A moderate from an elite world versus a MAGA-backed veteran. 

An attorney general versus a lieutenant governor. An ardent supporter of public education versus a skeptic who called educators “” and wants to strip schools of federal funding. 

North Carolina’s governor race, dubbed the its final moments. But in the aftermath of several scandals and increasing political fanfare, the swing state known for nail-biting election days is almost certain to elect Democrat Josh Stein over Republican nominee Mark Robinson.

In late September, as polls were already showing a slight lead for Stein, reported Robinson called himself a “Black Nazi” and posted “slavery is not bad” anonymously on a porn site. Once his cheerleader, former President Donald Trump has since gone silent about Robinson and has not been seen with him in public, even while campaigning in North Carolina. In recent weeks, Robinson has taken to of Trump.

“The expectation is with everything dragging Robinson down, Stein should have a good night,” said Michael Bitzer, North Carolina elections expert and politics chair at Catawba College. 

But beyond the controversy that’s encircled Robinson – who has kept education debates centered on eradicating the presence of “politics” and “indoctrination” in schools, and – educators and students across the state told The 74 their top concerns are school safety and mental health, teacher pay and recruitment, and school funding. 

Their worries reach beyond the gubernatorial race, as the future of who will determine state education policy is in limbo. The state superintendent race is , with Democrat and former large district superintendent Mo Green holding a tiny lead over far-right candidate and homeschooling advocate, , who praised “patriots” outside the White House during the January 6 insurrection.

But whether the next governor is Stein or Robinson, the state leader will also appoint individuals for , subject to confirmation by the assembly. At least in March 2025, and five of Cooper’s picks have yet to be confirmed. The agency is in charge of policy, including credentialing criteria and what textbooks get used statewide. 

“Election day has got everybody a little nervous in the education world in North Carolina,” said Patrick Greene, president of the statewide school leader association and principal of Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, a town just over an hour’s drive southeast of Raleigh. 

“I think a lot of us are trying to get people to understand that the implications for this race go beyond party lines,” Greene said. “We need to do a better job of being advocates for people outside of the [education] world to understand how these policies directly affect them, their children, their communities.” 

There’s a strong chance North Carolina’s next governor will also in the state legislature, where lawmakers have repeatedly overridden current Governor Roy Cooper’s vetos to push through of laws including a 12-week abortion ban, restrictions on sports and medical treatments for transgender youth, and limitations on classroom discussions about gender – moves condemned by the . 

“Those of us who are boots on the ground need progress. We would love for the General Assembly and whichever gubernatorial candidate and state superintendent candidate wins to find some common ground — let’s get some stuff done,” Greene said, advocating for , teacher prep expansion and “all the things we want to do to make schools as good as they can be, rather than more and more rhetoric each time and blaming each other.” 

Stein’s top priority as governor, according to , is to improve public education. He has also supported to address the youth mental health crisis, and wants to expand support and access to community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The two education issues Robinson and Stein have some alignment on are raising teacher pay and expanding career and technical education. The question of how to afford educating the state’s most vulnerable populations, however, is another matter.

‘We need more than we’re getting’

Both Robinson and superintendent candidate Morrow have pushed to expand school vouchers, which would send more public funds to private schools. Governor Cooper called the effort the .”

Educators are also anxiously tracking the state supreme court as it wades into a , in which parents argued the state formula denied quality education to their impoverished, often rural areas. 

Today, the state where more residents live in rural areas ranks , more than $4,000 below average. 

The vast majority of North Carolina children are educated in public schools, with a little over . Similar trends held true in Arizona, another swing state where a recent revealed low income families were not accessing the voucher programs marketed to them.

“[Families] have options and they’re still choosing us,” said Greene.

Further worrying education advocates, for the states’s schools. “If I had my way about it, they’d send the check and I’d say, ‘Oh, no, you can have it. I don’t want your money. Your money comes with too many rotten obligations. We don’t want it.’”

Last school year, North Carolina received more than , which went predominantly to low-income schools, students with disabilities, career and technical education, and health programs like nutrition, mental health care and substance abuse support. 

“That’s scary in the world of the people who legally are bound to provide that. We don’t know where the resources would come from,” Greene added. “Quite honestly, we need more than we’re getting, I think like a lot of states that are predominantly rural.” 

Legacies of ‘hateful rhetoric’ 

Following in Trump’s footsteps, Robinson originally appealed to voters with a compelling personal story. He grew up a poor child in Greensboro, had faced multiple bankruptcies, and was a furniture-maker-turned lieutenant-governor in his first political bid after brief virality for a speech . 

Despite threats to preserving quality education for poor students, those with disabilities and LGBTQ youth, North Carolina students interviewed by The 74 are eager to vote and share optimism for the future.

“With all of this really extremist speech, I get to see firsthand how students my age are two things: either unmotivated to vote or talk about politics at all, or they’re really motivated because they’re frustrated and angry,” said Tai Stephan, 18, a first year student at the University of North Carolina and child of educators. “They’re educating themselves, they’re voting, they’re talking about things and to anyone that’s unmotivated.” 

Voting for the first time, Stephan said he is supporting candidates promoting equality and safety. His campus is one of several universities acting , including ending 59 staff positions. People “so beyond angry” are acting to change the policy they believe to be unjust, hosting teach-ins, speeches and considering lawsuits, risking possible disciplinary action. 

“They’re so frustrated that it goes beyond their educational prestige. It’s really scary to see a lot of groups at risk for losing the oasis they have in within schools… It shows that a lot of minority students are being attacked via legislation and where our country is moving if we don’t get out and vote.”   

For Evan Keith, 18 and a senior at Forest Hills High School in the southern, central North Carolina town of Marshville, it’s been difficult to see his peers feel discouraged by politics, with many thinking “even if we vote for a certain person, not a lot will change.”

At a time when educators and students are also fueling charges to curb the prevalence of school shootings, a Stein governorship feels like a safer choice.

“I hope that our governor, whoever it is, will really push to make safety a top priority, and mental health, as [they] really do affect everything: grades, performances on tests, and job confidence with our employers,” said Keith, also a first time voter this November. 

While it remains to be seen how Hurricane Helene recovery, early voting has yielded a. 

Education advocates are urging voters to to “do their homework and find the person that’s gonna help kids the most,” said Greene. “And if they don’t know, talk to somebody who works in education, because usually we’re happy to tell you.”