Midterm 'blue wave' sweeps in Democrat facing felony charge, convicted felon
As part of a nationwide “blue wave,” Democrats scored two unexpected victories in the 2026 midterms: one candidate facing a felony charge and another with a past felony conviction.
In North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, Democrat LaKesha Womack defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Tim Moore, 51.1% to 48.9%, as part of a broader Democratic surge in the state. Womack remains under a Class H felony charge stemming from a 2019 allegation that she failed to return a rental car. She was served with a criminal summons at a campaign event in Polk County on Oct. 11. The criminal summons was first issued in 2020 but went unserved for nearly seven years.
At the time, Womack, an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, pushed back against the timing and use of the charge, blaming her legal troubles on a “serious medical emergency that required hospitalization in intensive care.” She has also said she was homeless at the time and was unaware of the charge.
“As a single mother living with Type 1 diabetes, that experience was frightening, overwhelming, and life changing. Like millions of Americans, I learned firsthand how quickly an unexpected medical crisis can disrupt your health, financial stability, and ability to provide for your family,” Womack said in an October statement shared with local media. “Recovering physically was only part of the challenge. Rebuilding financially and regaining stability required determination, resilience, and faith. Those experiences have shaped who I am today and strengthened my commitment to helping others navigate the challenges that life can bring unexpectedly."
A felony conviction would not automatically bar Womack from serving in the House. Under House ethics rules, a member convicted of a crime punishable by two or more years in prison is expected to refrain from voting on the House floor or in committee. Under party rules, members formally charged with such a felony are also expected to step aside from committee assignments and party leadership positions while the charge is pending. Class H felonies in North Carolina can carry more than two years in prison, though actual penalties depend on a defendant’s record.
Womack’s attorneys appeared on her behalf in Mecklenburg County court Tuesday, and a probable cause hearing has been set for Dec. 1, according to WSOC.
Separately in Texas, legal questions abound concerning Democrat Ericka Lomick, who won a Fort Worth-area state House seat after she defeated Republican Alan Blaylock with about 51% of the vote. The race decided both the regular Nov. 3 election and a concurrent special election to finish the term of outgoing Rep. Nate Schatzline.
Lomick was convicted in 2011 of mortgage fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a plea deal, according to CBS News Texas. She was sentenced to 63 months in prison, but it’s unclear how much of her sentence was served behind bars.
In late September, Lomick suspended her campaign amid questions about her eligibility. In a campaign news release, she said: “After careful consideration, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for House District 93. Although this was not an easy decision, I am convinced that it was the right one for the people of HD 93.”
According to the release, Lomick made the decision “to step aside and allow the people of HD 93 to elect someone who can serve the district without the burden of defending against attacks that would threaten to derail the business of the people.” Her name remained on the ballot, however.
Under Texas law, a person convicted of a felony is generally ineligible to hold state office unless pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities. If an ineligible candidate wins, the vacancy is filled in the regular manner.
Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Allison Campolo told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the party is in contact with Lomick’s campaign and with attorneys to determine whether she is eligible to serve in the seat. Lomick told the Star-Telegram her campaign is “awaiting guidance from legal counsel.”
Blaylock has said the results “do not settle who will serve this district” and that he is “pursuing every lawful avenue” to ensure the seat goes to someone eligible to hold office, according to CBS News Texas.
Democrats in the Lone Star State and nationwide delivered what’s been called a “catastrophic” defeat to the Republican Party as Democrats swept races coast to coast last week, regaining both houses of Congress, flipping six governors' offices and seizing hundreds of seats in state legislatures.
