Clay Aiken's opponent for North Carolina's U.S. House District 2 seat has died.
Keith Crisco died at his home Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for Asheboro Elastics Corp. confirmed.
Reports suggest he suffered injuries from a fall at his Asheboro home and was dead when emergency services arrived on scene.
Crisco served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce before leaving his post in 2012.
Aiken released a statement Monday on his website, saying, "I am stunned and deeply saddened by Keith Crisco's death. Keith came from humble beginnings. No matter how high he rose – to Harvard, to the White House and to the Governor's Cabinet – he never forgot where he came from."
The North Carolina State Board of Elections said, "The State Board of Elections is saddened to hear of the passing of Keith Crisco. A native of North Carolina, we are grateful for Mr. Crisco's service to our state and his community through the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Crisco family during this difficult time."
The U.S. House District 2 race was considered too close to call, as Aiken led Crisco by just over a few hundred votes.
