Clemmons, North Carolina’s Democratic House Leader, to Resign from Georgia

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The second-ranking Democratic leader in the North Carolina House of Representatives announced Tuesday that she will retire from the General Assembly next month because she is taking a new job with the University of North Carolina system.

Ashton Wheeler Clemmons, a three-term Guilford County representative and former elementary school teacher and school administrator, joined the House in 2019 and became a leading voice for the House minority party on education issues. She later became deputy leader of the House Democratic Caucus. She also helped lead legislation to raise the minimum age of marriage and improve conditions for pregnant and childbirth inmates.

“Clemmons came to the General Assembly for the right reason: she wanted to help the citizens of our state,” House Minority Leader Robert Reives said in a statement. “She stayed true to that calling and left our caucus and our state stronger.”

She will become the UNC System’s associate vice president for K-12 education strategy and policy.

Clemmons is currently running as a Democrat in the 57th House District, facing Republican Janice Davis. Guilford County Democratic activists are tasked with choosing a replacement and someone to fill out Clemmons’ term through the end of the year.

Clemmons did not reveal a specific date for her August resignation. She said Tuesday she would wait until her successor is chosen to do so.

House Appropriations Committee Senior Co-Chairman Jason Saine, a Lincoln County Republican, announced Monday that he will resign his legislative seat effective Aug. 12.