The upcoming North Carolina gubernatorial election could be another flashpoint in the nation's sharply divided politics

• North Carolina GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson launched his 2024 gubernatorial campaign on Saturday.
• But some Republicans think he's too divisive, with Democrats likely to nominate state AG Josh Stein.
• The gubernatorial contest could highlight sharp ideological divides in an already polarized country.

For years, both Democrats and Republicans have been in a political tug-of-war over the direction of North Carolina, a Southern state that had long been defined by its more moderate politics.