Womack credits community campaign after defeating Moore in NC’s 14th District

Mecklenburg margin delivers Democratic victory as congresswoman-elect outlines priorities and addresses pending felony case

Democrat LaKesha Womack says listening to voters and showing up in their communities helped her defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Moore in North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, despite a substantial fundraising disadvantage.

“Those dollars don’t vote. People vote,” Womack said in a post-election interview.

Unofficial election-night returns show Womack receiving 147,388 votes, or 51.11%, to Moore’s 140,973 votes, or 48.89%. Her margin was 6,415 votes, approximately 2.22 percentage points.

The Nov. 3 victory flips the seat to Democrats and denies Moore a second term in Congress. Moore previously served as North Carolina House speaker.

Womack described herself as overwhelmed and honored by the result. Asked about the significance of her victory, she said her focus had been on constituents facing financial and personal difficulties.

“I wasn’t thinking about making history. I was really just thinking about making a difference for the voters in this district,” she said.

Womack said her campaign emphasized meet-and-greets, listening tours, town halls and informal conversations. She credited North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton and county party leaders with organizing events and helping voters get to know her.

Although she said she lacked national party support, Womack described strong support from Democrats at the state and county levels.

“I showed up for the people, and then people showed up for me,” she said.

Approximately $56,000 raised by Womack compared with about $2 million for Moore. Womack embraced the comparison as evidence of the value of personal contact. Those amounts were not independently verified against campaign finance filings for this article.

Womack said campaigns are too often judged by their fundraising rather than their relationships with voters.

“I could not have picked a better district to run in because they hosted so many events and made sure that I had the visibility that I needed,” she said of local party leaders.

The county returns show how she assembled the winning total.

Womack carried the Mecklenburg portion of the district by 35,803 votes, receiving 73,515 votes to Moore’s 37,712. That advantage exceeded Moore’s combined 29,388-vote lead across the other five counties.

In Rutherford County, Moore received 15,376 votes to Womack’s 7,498, winning by 7,878 votes. Polk County was closer: Moore received 3,773 votes to Womack’s 3,334, a 439 vote difference.

County	LaKesha Womack	Tim Moore	Leader and margin
Burke	11,071	18,954	Moore by 7,883
Cleveland	13,252	21,230	Moore by 7,978
Gaston	38,718	43,928	Moore by 5,210
Mecklenburg	73,515	37,712	Womack by 35,803
Polk	3,334	3,773	Moore by 439
Rutherford	7,498	15,376	Moore by 7,878
Total	147,388	140,973	Womack by 6,415

The figures cover the congressional district within each reporting county, rather than necessarily the entire county. All six reporting areas listed final election-night returns, which remain unofficial pending canvass and certification.

Womack also addressed the pending felony case that became an issue during the campaign.

The case concerns an allegation that she failed to return a rented vehicle in 2019. A criminal summons was originally issued in January 2020 and served at a Polk County campaign event on Oct. 11, 2026, according to court records.

Womack said the vehicle was returned and that she had retained an attorney.

“The car was returned,” she said. “My lawyer is going to deal with it.”

Her statement about the vehicle’s eventual return does not resolve the allegation concerning whether it was returned as required. The charge remains an allegation, and Womack is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Womack characterized the campaign’s focus on the case as a political attack and questioned the timing of service. The supplied interview does not establish that Moore’s campaign directed the service of the summons or influenced the prosecution.

“We’re just going to let it play out in court,” she said.

Asked whether the case could affect her new role, Womack joked about President Donald Trump’s felony convictions: “Even if I get one, like I think it just makes me qualified to be president.” She did not concede guilt.

Looking toward Congress, Womack identified health care, Social Security and oversight of the administration as priorities. She also said she would support legislation from either party when it benefits the district.

“If it’s good legislation that’s going to help our district, then I’m going to support it,” she said.

On public safety, she advocated support for after-school programs, community centers and mental health treatment, arguing that lawmakers should address conditions contributing to crime.

At the time of the interview, Womack said she had not yet spoken with Moore but that a conversation was scheduled to discuss the transition and constituent services.

For young people considering public office, she urged them to identify the problems they want to solve and the office with authority to address them.

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there if you truly want to solve problems for your community,” she said.