North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein was elected governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and maintaining Democratic leadership of the chief executive’s office in a state where Republicans have recently controlled the legislature and appeals courts.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein defeated scandal-plagued Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the state’s gubernatorial race, NBC News projects, keeping the seat in Democrats’ hands.Stein had been the clear favorite to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov.

Robinson told supporters that he was "disappointed" in his loss for the North Carolina governor seat. He conceded shortly after 9 p.m.