Republican Rep. Mike Clampitt, House member from Western NC, has died
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- Rep. Mike Clampitt, 71, died after a long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome.
- Clampitt represented House District 119: Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties.
- Colleagues praised his public service from fire captain to legislator and his faith.
A North Carolina state House member has died.
Rep. Mike Clampitt, a Bryson City Republican, passed away after a long battle with cancer, House Speaker Destin Hall announced on Wednesday.
Clampitt, 71, had been ill for the past year.
“Mike Clampitt was my friend, a colleague, and a true patriot,” Hall said in a statement. “For him, public service was both a calling and a duty, from his years as a fire captain to his time in the General Assembly. He loved the people he served and cared deeply about the issues that mattered most to his constituents in Western North Carolina.”
Clampitt’s House District 119 included Jackson, Swain and Transylvania counties.
“He faced cancer with the same courage that defined his life, carrying himself with strength and grounding himself in his unwavering faith in God every step of the way,” Hall said.
“On behalf of the entire North Carolina House of Representatives, we will miss him dearly. My prayers are with all who knew and loved him. May they find comfort in knowing Mike is with his Savior today.”
Clampitt announced last April that he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a blood and bone marrow cancer, The News & Observer previously reported. He missed some legislative sessions in 2025 related to his illness.
“This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult periods of my life, but I remain hopeful and grounded by the unwavering support of my family, friends and this incredible community,” Clampitt said in April.
“We’ve been rallying around him to make sure he had all the support he needs,” House Majority Leader Brenden Jones said in April.
Clampitt was known at the Legislative Building for occasionally loud and festive suits and friendly demeanor. He was one of three Western North Carolina Republican House members who voted against a Republican-written bill that did not contain as much Helene relief as they wanted, but then later voted with their caucus to help override a veto in December 2024.
Clampitt was serving his fourth term and just won his GOP primary to run for a fifth term. Republicans in his local party will choose his successor, who would then be appointed by the governor to finish Clampitt’s current term, which ends in December.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 3:57 PM.
