My phone is blowing up today with calls and texts from Republican sources in North Carolina who are waiting with bated breath about a huge story CNN is reportedly about to drop on this year’s this year’s gubernatorial nominee, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.

https://x.com/AudreyFahlberg/status/1836785437244891391

If what I’m hearing is correct, this story will nuke Robinson’s already dwindling chances of flipping termed-out Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s seat. Today is the drop out deadline in North Carolina, though ballots are already being printed.

(Robinson’s spokesman did not immediately return multiple phone calls from National Review.)

Reminder that Republicans have long worried about this exact scenario playing out. That roster of concerned Republicans includes North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who endorsed one of Robinson’s primary challengers back in December in an interview with NR.

Here’s some of my reporting from January 2023 in The Dispatch:

North Carolina Republicans continue to feel uneasy about their party’s current gubernatorial frontrunner, firebrand Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. But no coherent strategy yet exists to knock him out in a primary.

Those with concerns about Robinson fear his controversial views, as well as his checkered personal and campaign finance history, will alienate suburban and independent voters in 2024 as Republicans try to flip the the gubernatorial seat of term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

And many Republicans know Democrats have amassed an opposition research file that could be leaked at any time.Even Robinson seems worried about more potentially damaging revelations.

“I know there’s probably a lot of stuff out there swirling around …People are trying to put doubt in the air about our campaign, about me, but none of that stuff is true, I guarantee you,” Robinson said in a voicemail he left for a prospective Republican donor on Thursday,obtained by The Dispatch. “We’re ready to take this challenge on. And I believe that we are the candidate.”

More on this story.

This story has been updated.