ICYMI: Josh Stein Is Committed To Campaigning Everywhere

Earlier this week, Attorney General and Democratic nominee for Governor Josh Stein visited Laurinburg on his “Real Time with Stein” listening tour, emphasizing his commitment to showing up and delivering for rural communities as North Carolina’s next Governor.

Speaking to a group of about 100 voters, Josh made clear that “this campaign is about trying to earn the trust and earn the vote of every North Carolinian” and that whether “you’re rural, urban or suburban, there is a place for you in this campaign.”

Reporting noted that he “focused his message on promoting public education and expanding health care access,” highlighted his record “tackling the backlog of untested rape kits,” and shared his vision for “tackling the rising cost of living and cutting taxes for the working class.” Josh was joined by State Representative Garland Pierce, who praised him as “passionate about the state of North Carolina, the people of North Carolina, the veterans, families, educators, and all the different things that affect our lives daily.”
From Laurinburg to Lexington, Josh is committed to showing up in every corner of the state and building a broad-based coalition that will help him deliver a safer, stronger North Carolina for every person.

When Scotland High opened in the late 1960s as an integrated school, Marie Willis’s cousins, who are Black, got into fights with white students. Her cousins were expelled, while the white kids faced few consequences.

Then, North Carolina civil rights attorneys Julius Chambers and Adam Stein stepped in and got the expulsions reversed.

It’s a story that has stuck with Willis. On Tuesday she got to express her gratitude to Adam Stein’s son, Josh, during a campaign stop in Laurinburg. Josh Stein, a Democrat, is running for governor against Republican Mark Robinson in a contest that has drawn national attention because of Robinson’s right-wing views and controversial remarks on slavery, the Holocaust and more.

Willis, 68, said Stein’s visit on Tuesday was important because she felt her community was largely forgotten by state and national politicians. Her sentiments have been echoed by many rural voters across North Carolina.

“If you’re asking for my vote, you need to show up,” Willis said. “My vote is a privilege, so if you want to earn it, you better prove why you deserve it.”

About 100 people gathered at the I. Ellis Johnson Community Center where Stein, who currently serves as the state attorney general, focused his message on promoting public education and expanding health care access.

“This campaign is about trying to earn the trust and earn the vote of every North Carolinian,” Stein said. “I don’t care if you’re rural, urban or suburban, there is a place for you in this campaign.”

Laurinburg Exchange: NC gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein makes stop in Laurinburg

North Carolina Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein touched ground at the I. Ellis Johnson Community Center in Laurinburg and energized a crowd of local and regional Democrats.
In his speech, Stein spoke his part in securing more than $50 billion nationally to bring much-needed opioid addiction treatment and recovery services to people across North Carolina, tackling the backlog of untested rape kits in the country and defending women’s access to reproductive health care, children’s right to a sound public education and people’s access to health care under the Affordable Care Act.

“I am running for North Carolina governor because I believe in the promise of North Carolina, that if you work hard, where you come from should never limit how far you can go, that our kids and grandkids should enjoy a better and brighter future than we have and every North Carolinian has a fair shot at prosperity, getting a good-paying job or starting a small business everywhere in the state including small towns in North Carolina, including Laurinburg, North Carolina,” Stein said.

Stein said that he is for raising the minimum wage, tackling the rising cost of living and cutting taxes for the working class.

“Last month my campaign rolled out the working families tax cut. It’s all about putting more money in the pockets of working folk, lifting kids out of poverty, and stimulating the local economy,” Stein said. “It makes sure that every North Carolinian can get good health care no matter where they live or how much money they earn.”

Scotland County Commissioner Darrel BJ Gibson and Rep. Garland Pierce threw their support behind Stein and encouraged those in attendance to do so as well at the polls.

“He is passionate about the state of North Carolina, the people of North Carolina, the veterans, families, educators, and all the different things that affect our lives daily,” Pierce said.