James Michael Clampitt

Passed away 2026-03-18. Rep. Mike Clampitt died of leukemia at Duke University Hospital on March 18, 2026 ⁷¹⁴.

James Michael "Mike" Clampitt (February 17, 1955 – March 18, 2026) was a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 119, which covers parts of Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties in western North Carolina. As a state representative, he participated in the legislative process, voted on bills, and served on a range of committees that shape state policy, including appropriations, public safety, and tribal affairs ²⁷.

Clampitt earned an associate degree in fire science and technology from Rowan‑Cabarrus Community College in 1976 and began a career in public safety. He served as a volunteer firefighter, a deputy sheriff in Forsyth County, and then spent 27 years with the Charlotte Fire Department, rising to the rank of captain before retiring in 2004. Simultaneously, he directed fire‑rescue training at Central Piedmont Community College, where he helped develop a swift‑water rescue program for the Nantahala River ¹⁴¹⁰.

After his fire‑service career, Clampitt worked as the House Assistant Sergeant at Arms (2013‑2014) before first being elected to the North Carolina House in 2016. He served a term from 2017‑2019, was defeated, and then won the seat again in 2020, serving from January 1, 2021 until his death in March 2026. During his tenure he chaired the Families, Children, and Aging Policy Committee and the Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs Committee, and held vice‑chair positions on the Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Wildlife Resources Committee. He also served on the Education‑Community Colleges Committee and the Regulatory Reform Committee, among others ²⁷.

Clampitt was known for his focus on public‑safety issues, support for first responders, and advocacy for western‑North‑Carolina recovery after Hurricane Helene. He earned a 90 % rating from the NC Values Coalition and, in a notable bipartisan effort, co‑sponsored Governor Roy Cooper’s 2018 budget despite party differences ⁷. He was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and, according to public records, appeared on the Oath Keepers membership roster from at least 2014, a fact reported by multiple news outlets ⁷.

In the 2026 election cycle, Clampitt won the Republican primary for District 119 with 56.8 % of the vote but died of leukemia on March 18, 2026, before the November general election. His death created a vacancy; local Republican leaders selected Anna Ferguson as his replacement on the ballot, and the governor will appoint a successor to finish the term ²¹⁸¹⁹.

Clampitt’s long‑standing service—spanning fire‑department leadership, legislative work, and community involvement—left a legacy of dedication to his mountain districts and to North Carolina’s public‑safety institutions.

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