Womack admits she underestimated Tim Moore. She's still poised to beat him

What she's saying: "I honestly didn't see Tim Moore as the competitor that I probably should have assessed him to be," Womack tells Axios.

• She knew her district leaned Republican, but Democrats outperformed in elections nationally in 2025, she says.
• "I just felt like with all of my campaign training, if I put together a strong program, then I could win," she says.

The intrigue: The unexpectedly close race underscores the strength of Democratic gains in the midterms. Few considered District 14, covering six western counties, including part of Mecklenburg, as a potential flip.

• The irony: Moore was state House Speaker when Republicans redrew this district as a GOP lock in 2023. He then ran for the seat in 2024 and handily won.

"A lot of people wrote me off as a candidate because Tim Moore had a substantially large war chest," Womack says, adding, "you can't quantify community building."

• Moore spent 34.5 times more than Womack. He received $1.9 million in donations from the NRA and a long list of PACs tied to businesses, from Duke Energy to TD Bank, according to campaign finance reports as of Oct. 14.
• Womack received just $55,978.

By the numbers: Moore won by nearly 65,000 votes in 2024. Two years later, he is trailing by about 6,500 votes, according to unofficial results, with 99% of votes reported.

• He lost the most ground in Gaston County, where he received 62.9% of the votes in 2024 versus 53.2% Tuesday, a difference of 29,456 ballots.
• Meanwhile, Womack benefited from a strong performance in Mecklenburg. She got 66.1% of the vote in Mecklenburg County, compared to Pam Genant's 57.1% in 2024.

But who is Womack? The 49-year-old minister and consultant moved to the Charlotte area in 2016 to work on Hillary Clinton's campaign.

• She centered her congressional campaign on affordability, accountable government spending and federal investment in public schools.
• Womack says she'll advocate for housing reform after experiencing home insecurity herself. Womack and her son lived in a hotel while saving for a rental deposit.
• "There are a lot of people in our society who make too much money to get any help, but they don't make enough money to get ahead," Womack says.
• She says she ran for Congress, rather than starting at a smaller office, hoping to make a greater impact on health care and housing.

Political analysts Axios spoke to considered Moore's seat safe, even with Democrats dominating voter turnout. Moore had not conceded as of Wednesday afternoon.

• Moore said on the first day of early voting that he was door knocking "even though I probably wouldn't have to if I didn't want to," according to WUNC.
• Womack says she was averaging five to seven events per week, while Moore wasn't "showing up."
• "When you combine it with the failed economic policies of the current administration, there was a lot of frustration," Womack says.
• Axios reached out to Moore for comment and has not heard back as of press time.

Friction point: Womack lives in the 12th District, not District 14. She says she signed for her house before winning the primary.

• Congressional candidates don't have to live in a district to run in it — just the same state.
• She says she doesn't intend to move.
• "People have no idea where I live because I still show up for them," she says.

While at a campaign rally, Womack was served a criminal summons for a pending felony charge over a rental car she allegedly did not return in 2019.

• She declined to comment on the issue, citing a Tuesday court date.

What's next: If her lead holds, Womack will take office in January alongside other unexpected Democratic victors who flipped the U.S. House and Senate. She says she'll have freshman orientation next week.

• "I'll put together a plan, and we'll be ready to rock and roll by Jan. 3," she says.

Editor's note: This story is developing and will be updated.