South of Fayetteville along I-95 is North Carolina’s outlier county. It is one of the most diverse and poorest of the hundred. But, like the state as a whole, Robeson County is contested in the 2020 elections.
President Trump made a stop through the county on Saturday, Oct. 24, countering the Biden campaign’s push in the toss-up county. Both presidential candidates — as well as the congressional candidates for the 9th district — now promise federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.Chairman Harvey Godwin, elected leader of the state-recognized tribe, said he believes competitive political attention is a boon for tribal members. Yet other issues dominate Robeson politics, with Second Amendment rights and agriculture prioritized in many local candidates’ platforms. Affected by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, voters are still seeking out politicians who can help neighborhoods rebuild. WUNC digital news producer Laura Pellicer heard from Robeson County residents about their priorities. Pellicer shares those local insights with host Frank Stasio.
See more pictures and interviews from Pellicer's reporting in Lumberton
