NC Democrat LaKesha Womack faces felony warrant after election win
The new representative for North Carolina's 14th District was served with a warrant for a 2019 rental car incident while campaigning.
By Giulia Donovan ·
One felony warrant sits on the desk of LaKesha Womack, the Democrat who won a surprise House seat in North Carolina on Tuesday. Womack defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Tim Moore in the state's 14th Congressional District. The victory was part of a wave that saw multiple Democrats unseat Republican incumbents across the state. However, a legal cloud hangs over her upcoming tenure.
Womack was served with a felony warrant at a campaign event in October. The warrant stems from a failure to appear for a criminal summons related to a Class H felony charge. The underlying incident involves an allegation that she did not return a rental car in 2019. It remains unclear if she will begin her work in Congress given the pending charge.
Moore used the charge as a central theme in his campaign. He ran advertisements targeting Womack over the offense. Womack responded by accusing her opponent of exploiting an unresolved legal matter to attack her character. According to The Charlotte Observer, she framed the attacks as a personal dig rather than a policy disagreement.
A felony conviction does not automatically bar a member from the House. However, it restricts their duties. The House Ethics Committee states that a lawmaker sentenced to two or more years in prison should refrain from voting in the House or the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. This rule would limit Womack's ability to take committee assignments or hold party leadership positions.
North Carolina law sets a maximum sentence of two years for a Class H felony. Sentencing depends on the defendant's individual background. Womack faces this potential penalty if convicted. The legal status of her seat will depend on the outcome of these proceedings.
The last member removed from the House was George Santos of New York. He was expelled in 2023 after being accused of wire fraud and identity theft. Santos was later federally indicted on 23 counts. Those counts included wire fraud, money laundering, and stealing public funds. The U.S. House Historian's office recorded his removal as a rare event in recent history.
Womack now holds the seat while the legal process continues. Her opponents will likely press for a resolution before the new Congress convenes. The felony charge adds a layer of complexity to her introduction to Capitol Hill.
