Dem Congresswoman-Elect Heads to Court on Felony Charges for Failing To Return Rental Car

LaKesha Womack, who defeated Republican Tim Moore in North Carolina’s red-leaning 14th district, declined to say whether the vehicle was ever recovered

A week after Democrat LaKesha Womack pulled off a stunning upset in North Carolina’s red-leaning 14th Congressional District, she’s not headed to Washington, D.C.—she’s headed to a local courthouse, where she’s set to appear Tuesday on felony charges for failing to return a rental car.

Womack was served a felony summons three weeks before Election Day, according to court records reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, which show that the summons was originally issued in 2020 but was returned unserved before being reissued on Oct. 11. The summons includes an order for Womack to appear at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Nov. 10 at 9:00 a.m. and notes that Womack could be held in contempt of court if she fails to appear.

The original police report says Womack rented a 2019 Toyota Corolla worth $20,000 from a Budget Car Rental location in Charlotte and failed to return it 16 days later. “Attempts to locate the suspect have been unsuccessful,” the report states. Willfully failing to return a rental car is a felony in North Carolina if the car is worth more than $4,000.

Womack’s active felony case is a reflection of how the 2026 blue wave elevated little-known candidates to victory in districts that were not expected to be competitive. Womack defeated Republican Tim Moore by 2 points in North Carolina’s 14th district, which Moore, in his capacity as speaker of the state house, redrew in 2023, transforming it from a blue-leaning district to a red one. Moore carried the district by 17 points in 2024; the Cook Political Report rated it “likely Republican” this year. Womack raised $60,000 to Moore’s $2.1 million.

Womack faced questions on the case from local media during her campaign. She suggested that Moore played a role in reissuing the summons, telling the Charlotte-based News & Observer, “I’m not an attorney so I don’t know how these things work, but I would hate to believe that this was brought forward to give my opponent an unfair advantage by implying I’m a felon.” She also declined to say whether the vehicle was ever returned or recovered. “I have retained counsel which is why I am unable to comment on the details of the case,” she said.

Womack also addressed the charges in an Oct. 9 live stream. She said she did not know a criminal case had been filed against her because she “was homeless” and “had nowhere to receive mail.”

Womack’s housing situation prompted other problems during her campaign against Moore. She purchased a home earlier this year in South Charlotte, which is outside of her district, according to property records first reported by WBTV. But her voting registration listed an address within the district that was listed online as available for rent, indicating she was not living there. “Womack initially agreed to an interview to discuss whether she moved out of the district she is running to represent, but later canceled and did not respond to a request for comment,” WBTV reported. Congressmen do not need to live in the district they represent, but they must live in the same state.

Womack’s campaign generated some national media coverage. Axios noted two days before the election that she was poised to defeat Moore but did not mention the felony charges against her. Rather, the news outlet indicated that Womack is a “minister and consultant” who has experienced “home insecurity.”

Womack attended Vanderbilt University before founding Womack Consulting Group, where she helps “small businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community leaders develop strategic plans,” according to her campaign bio. It’s unclear how much money Womack has earned from the firm, as she has no personal financial disclosure on file with the House of Representatives. Candidates who spent more than $5,000 are required to file such a disclosure. Womack spent more than $55,000.

Neither the House Ethics Committee nor Womack’s campaign responded to a request for comment.

Womack ran on a platform of raising the federal minimum wage and federal funding to public schools. She maintained a Substack blog throughout the campaign, publishing headlines like “Why Is ‘Antifa’ the Boogeyman?” and “Is School Choice a Gateway to Segregation?” In the latter piece, Womack argued that school choice programs hurt “working-class families” because they do not “have the ability to navigate the choices.”