NC Candidate Lakesha Womack Served With Felony Warrant at Rally

Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 31, 2026. Lakesha Womack, the Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, was served with a felony warrant at a campaign event on Oct. 11, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The 49-year-old incumbent challenger was taken into custody by deputies during the gathering.

The warrant, originally issued in January 2020, charged Womack with failing to return a hired motor vehicle valued at more than $4,000. Court documents indicate she rented a 2019 Toyota Corolla from Budget Car Rental in October 2019 and missed the agreed-upon return date. The vehicle was reported to be worth $20,000 at the time of the rental.

Sheriff’s deputies did not serve the warrant until this month, though officials did not immediately explain why the document sat unserved for six years. Womack represents a district that includes Gastonia, Shelby, and Morgantown, as well as parts of far south Charlotte. She is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Tim Moore in the upcoming general election.

Womack’s campaign issued a statement addressing the situation, though it did not directly detail the felony warrant. The statement noted that allegations involving the candidate have drawn media attention and attack ads from Friends of Tim Moore. “Candidates for public office should be held accountable and voters deserve transparency,” the statement read.

The campaign emphasized that it has focused on accountability and affordability throughout the race. “I believe every candidate and elected official should be evaluated by consistent standards, including their record of public service, their decisions in office, and their responsiveness to the people they represent,” the statement continued. The midterm general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Womack remains on the ballot for the 14th District seat, where she will face Moore in a contest spanning several western North Carolina counties. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the Oct. 11 arrest as part of their routine service of the court order.