{"biography":"**Passed away 2026-03-18.** Rep. Mike Clampitt died of leukemia at Duke University Hospital on March 18, 2026 [7][14].\n\nJames Michael \"Mike\" Clampitt (February\u202f17,\u202f1955\u202f\u2013\u202fMarch\u202f18,\u202f2026) was a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District\u202f119, 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 [2][7].\n\nClampitt earned an associate degree in fire science and technology from Rowan\u2011Cabarrus 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\u202fyears with the Charlotte Fire Department, rising to the rank of captain before retiring in 2004.  Simultaneously, he directed fire\u2011rescue training at Central Piedmont Community College, where he helped develop a swift\u2011water rescue program for the Nantahala River [14][10].\n\nAfter his fire\u2011service career, Clampitt worked as the House Assistant Sergeant at Arms (2013\u20112014) before first being elected to the North Carolina House in 2016.  He served a term from 2017\u20112019, was defeated, and then won the seat again in 2020, serving from January\u202f1,\u202f2021 until his death in March\u202f2026.  During his tenure he chaired the Families, Children, and Aging Policy Committee and the Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs Committee, and held vice\u2011chair positions on the Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Wildlife Resources Committee.  He also served on the Education\u2011Community Colleges Committee and the Regulatory Reform Committee, among others [2][7].\n\nClampitt was known for his focus on public\u2011safety issues, support for first responders, and advocacy for western\u2011North\u2011Carolina recovery after Hurricane\u202fHelene.  He earned a 90\u202f% rating from the NC Values Coalition and, in a notable bipartisan effort, co\u2011sponsored Governor Roy Cooper\u2019s 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].\n\nIn the 2026 election cycle, Clampitt won the Republican primary for District\u202f119 with 56.8\u202f% of the vote but died of leukemia on March\u202f18,\u202f2026, 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 [2][18][19].\n\nClampitt\u2019s long\u2011standing service\u2014spanning fire\u2011department leadership, legislative work, and community involvement\u2014left a legacy of dedication to his mountain districts and to North Carolina\u2019s public\u2011safety institutions.\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [Mike Clampitt - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Clampitt)\n- [7] [Mike Clampitt - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Clampitt)\n- [10] [Vote Smart | Facts For All](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136386/mike-clampitt)\n- [14] [James Clampitt Obituary (2026) - Bryson City, NC - The Smoky Mountain Times](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thesmokymountaintimes/name/james-clampitt-obituary?id=61159201)\n- [18] [Republicans select replacement for late Rep. Clampitt](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/41174-republicans-select-replacement-for-late-rep-clampitt)\n- [19] [Challenger to late state Rep. Clampitt succeeds him in office](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/04/13/anna-ferguson-nc-rep-clampitt)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_119","county":"jackson","county_count":3,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 119"},{"contest":"state_house_119","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 119"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"James","fullname":"James Michael Clampitt","lastname":"Clampitt","middlename":"Michael","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_119","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 119","county":"jackson","county_count":3,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"state_house_119","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 119","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_119","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 119","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Mike Clampitt was a Republican North Carolina state representative for District\u202f119 who served from 2017\u20112019 and 2021\u20112026, focusing on public safety and western\u2011NC issues before his death in March\u202f2026.","terms":[],"token":"52bbc94ba899f73d"}