Newly elected Democrat LaKesha Womack is facing a felony charge for allegedly failing to return a rental car, just days after unseating Republican Representative Tim Moore in North Carolina's 14th Congressional District. Womack is scheduled to appear in Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Tuesday, a week after her surprise election victory.
The charge stems from an incident on October 23, 2019, when Womack was accused of failing to return a 2019 Toyota Corolla sedan, a charge classified as a felony for a vehicle valued at over $4,000. A criminal summons was initially issued in January 2020 but was not served until October, during a campaign event.
Moore's campaign capitalized on the charges, running attack ads that highlighted the felony accusation and questioned Womack's fitness for office. The ads accused Womack of refusing to answer questions about the alleged felony, with one ad stating, "Womack's felony charge? It's about stolen property. Tim Moore wants you to keep your money and your property."
In response, Womack stated that candidates for public office should be held accountable through due process, not through "speculation or sensationalism." She added that as an attorney, Moore should understand that legal matters are addressed through the proper legal channels. Womack also described a "severely difficult" period in her life that impacted her finances, without elaborating further. She pledged to address public questions consistent with the legal process.
Despite the controversy and Moore's significant spending advantage—raising $3 million compared to Womack's $59,000—Womack secured a victory with 51.1 percent of the vote. Democrats flipped at least five seats in North Carolina, including Moore's, which had been redrawn to favor Republicans. Moore was a first-term representative and former longest-serving speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.