NC-HD119: NC Rep. Mike Clampitt (R) dies, just weeks after winning primary election
Republican North Carolina Rep. Mike Clampitt, who spent years as a firefighter in Charlotte before retiring to western North Carolina and starting a political career, died Wednesday following a battle with cancer. He was 71.
Clampitt, a Republican representing district covering Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties, served four terms in the legislature.
He made a name for himself as a politician who backed efforts to get new benefits for firefighters, and to strengthen the state's laws against drunk driving.
In 2017, he and five other Republicans made waves when they proposed amending the state constitution to allow North Carolina to secede from the Union again.
https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/nc-house-mike-clampitt-dies-cancer-election-march-2026/