Stein, Trump lead latest polls in North Carolina

(The Center Square) – Josh Stein leads Mark Robinson 46%-42% in a North Carolina governor’s race poll released Friday.

Stein, the Democratic attorney general, has steadily pulled ahead of the Republican lieutenant governor, according to multiple samplings. Both candidates chase undecideds, a whopping 14.9% at the three-month mark from Nov. 5.

Cygnal Polling, on behalf of the John Locke Foundation, got 600 responses from likely voters on Sunday and Monday. The margin of error is +/- 3.99%.

In the presidential race, Donald Trump leads Kamala Harris 47.2%-44.1% – considered a statistical tie because it’s within the margin of error. The former president hopes to continue a pattern of Republicans winning the state 12 of 14 times since Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson prevailed in 1964.

The vice president, not a candidate until 107 days before Election Day when President Joe Biden pulled out, hits the three-week mark of her declaration as a candidate on Sunday.

Harris is polling 6 points higher than Biden. Robert Kennedy Jr. fell from 8.8% in a May poll by the same outlet to 3.6%. Only 4.1% are undecided.

"The poll indicates that Josh Stein holds an advantage in voter trust over Mark Robinson, on the issues of the economy, education, and crime,” said John Locke Foundation CEO Donald Bryson. “That’s very interesting when you consider that this poll shows Republican leads in every other race in the poll, including president, state Supreme Court, and six other Council of State positions.”

Republican Michele Morrow, victor over incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, leads Democrat Mo Green 41.5%-37%. There are 21.5% undecided.

The attorney general race is led by Republican Dan Bishop over Democrat Jeff Jackson 41.7%-37.8% – at 3.9% within the margin of error and a statistical tie. Both men are members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican Luke Farley leads Democrat Braxton Winston II 39.5%-35.8%, with more than 25% undecided and also inside the margin of error. Even closer are the leads of Republican Hal Weatherman over Democrat Rachel Hunt, 37.8%-35.9%, for lieutenant governor; and Republican Dave Boliek leads Democrat Jessica Holmes 35.5%-34.7% for auditor.

Absentee-by-mail ballots are 28 days away from going out, early in-person voting is 69 days away, and Election Day is 88 days away.