North Carolina 2024 primary results: Biden, Trump projected to win; Robinson and Stein projected to win governor's nod

ABC News projects that President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will win the North Carolina Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, based on analysis of the exit poll.

ABC News also projects that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will win the North Carolina Republican governor primary, based on analysis of the exit poll.

In the North Carolina Democratic governor primary, ABC News projects that North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein will win, based on analysis of the vote.

Acknowledging his victory on X, Stein said "I'm incredibly humbled, honored, and pumped to officially be the Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina. Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign and believes in our vision for a stronger, safer North Carolina. Now let's win this election on November 5th!"

Robinson also took to X, expressing how he's looking forward to November.

"I am officially the GOP nominee for Governor of North Carolina! But our work isn't done yet," he said, "It's just getting started – it is full steam ahead to Election Day in November."

Stein has the backing of outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper who said he "leads with integrity and grit," while Robinson has the support of Trump, who referred to him as "Martin Luther King on steroids."

If either candidate wins the executive mansion come November, it would be history-making. Stein would be the first Jewish governor; Robinson would be the state's first Black governor.

Robinson previously made state history in 2021, becoming North Carolina's first Black lieutenant governor in 2021.

Robinson's win Tuesday night was condemned by Geoff Wetrosky, the Human Rights Campaign's vice president for national campaigns, who released a statement Tuesday calling out how Robinson has referred to homosexuality and being transgender as "filth," called the Holocaust "hogwash," and said that Christians "are called to be led by men."

"He cannot be allowed to get anywhere near the governor's office," Wetrosky said. "His vitriol for LGBTQ+ North Carolinians isn't just disqualifying -- it's dangerous and would leave thousands of North Carolinians at risk for bullying, harassment, and violence."

Robinson has since tried to walk back or at least distance himself from several of his many inflammatory comments around race, sexuality, religion and gender, but seemingly stands by others.

In Tuesday's race, Robinson beat out State Treasurer Dale Folwell and attorney Bill Graham. Stein prevailed against a crowded field of candidates, including former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan; Tryon, North Carolina, City Councilwoman Chrelle Booker; former Princeville, North Carolina Police Chief Gary Foxx; and attorney Marcus Williams.

In the presidential primary race, exit polling showed that North Carolina was right up Trump's ally -- 78% of voters identified themselves as conservatives, half of them as "very" conservative.

The former president emphasizing immigration and the border during on the campaign trial also appeared to pay off in the state, with 41% of people calling it their top issue. Sixty-three percent of voters said they favored deportation of most undocumented immigrants.

James Fischer from Greensboro, a Trump supporter, told ABC News Saturday that he backs the former president because "he's not a true politician."

"And I think he cares about our country. And I think he cares about people and important things, like having a job and the economy," Fischer said.

Seventy-four delegates are up for grabs for Republicans (where Trump faced former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley) and 116 delegates are on the table for the Democrats.

Polls were open on primary day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting was from Feb. 15 to Saturday. More than 695,000 ballots were cast early or by mail.

State significance

North Carolina's primary is not anticipated to have major implications for either party, though the state is going to be a battleground in the general election, as it has been for several past cycles.