Could 'North Carolina's Mayor' make a run for governor?

Robert Burns has made the most of his platform, and now feels a call to take it to "a bigger stage"

Monroe mayor Robert Burns has only been elected once — and he won that race by a coin flip. But he’s made the most of it, turning his city’s story into a platform and a brand.

At this point, he’s arguably the highest-profile Republican mayor in North Carolina since Pat McCrory. Could he make a similar leap?

In a video posted yesterday, Burns announced that he will not be running for re-election next year. “There is a stirring in my soul to turn my fight for Monroe to a bigger stage,” he said.

Word on the street is that he’ll jump into the race for governor in 2028 instead. Here’s a quick breakdown of his chances.

Will the ‘Monroe Story’ translate statewide?

Powered by a positive attitude and a social media megaphone, Burns has quickly elevated his profile among North Carolina conservatives. He’s adopted the nickname “North Carolina’s Mayor,” and traveled the state telling what he calls the “Monroe Story.”

It goes a little like this: We’re a city on the rise, united by hard work, faith, and…