NC 14 Candidate: Felony Car Rental Warrant Served

Lakesha Womack, the Democratic challenger for North Carolina's 14th Congressional District, was served with a felony warrant on October 11. Polk County deputies presented the document at a campaign event earlier this month.

The warrant dates to 2020 and charges Womack with failing to return a hired motor vehicle. According to the arrest warrant, she rented a 2019 Toyota Corolla from Budget Car Rental in October 2019. The vehicle was valued at $20,000, and the initial summons was issued in January 2020 but remained unserved until October of this year.

Womack is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Tim Moore in a race covering Gastonia, Shelby, Morgantown, and parts of far south Charlotte. The district includes key working-class communities in the state's southwest corner.

When asked about the warrant, Womack’s campaign did not address the felony charge directly. Instead, the team focused on attack ads from Moore’s campaign, Friends of Tim Moore. A statement from the campaign noted that allegations had drawn media attention and that voters deserve transparency.

The statement emphasized that candidates should be evaluated by consistent standards, including their record of public service and responsiveness to the people they represent. The campaign highlighted its focus on accountability and affordability throughout the race.

Voters in the 14th District will cast their ballots in the midterm general election on November 3. The timing of the warrant service, just days before the vote, has placed the issue at the center of the local campaign narrative.