Lakesha Womack

The Election Hub Questionnaire

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

I am 47 years old. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Vanderbilt University and am currently enrolled at Vanderbilt Law School, where I am pursuing a Master’s in Legal Studies. I currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.

I am running for Congress because our communities deserve leadership that is grounded in integrity, accountability, and a deep understanding of the challenges working people face every day. Too many decisions in Washington are driven by corporate interests and political convenience rather than the lived realities of families struggling with rising health care costs, stagnant wages, underfunded schools, and threats to our democracy. I am running to change that and to ensure government works for people, not powerful insiders.

Voters should choose me because I bring real-world experience, not career politics. I have spent my career working alongside small business owners, workers, faith communities, and nonprofit leaders to solve problems and expand opportunity. I am not beholden to corporate PACs or dark money, and I am willing to challenge systems that no longer serve our communities. My leadership will be guided by listening to constituents, building coalitions, and delivering practical, people-centered solutions to issues such as affordable health care, economic mobility, equitable education, and protecting the right to vote.

I have not previously held elected office. However, I bring extensive experience working in and around the political process, including campaign strategy, voter engagement, and civic education at the local, state, and national levels. I have supported and advised candidates, participated in canvassing and voter outreach, and helped lead community-based civic engagement efforts. This experience has given me a strong understanding of how policy is shaped, how campaigns are run, and how to remain accountable to the people I represent.

Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

Two professional accomplishments that best reflect my leadership style are rooted in listening, collaboration, and results-driven innovation.

First, I served for eight years as an elected leader in a national young adult ministry, including four years as committee chair. In that role, I worked with a diverse group of leaders from across the country and learned the importance of listening deeply to the needs of young adults rather than imposing top-down solutions. Together, we built vibrant, inclusive ministry opportunities that reflected the lived experiences, cultural diversity, and aspirations of the communities we served. This experience shaped my collaborative leadership style and reinforced the value of shared decision-making.

Second, in my current work with ASPIRE Community Capital, I have helped reimagine how we support small businesses by moving beyond “business as usual.” Instead of one-size-fits-all approaches, I work with entrepreneurs to understand their real challenges and design loan products and support programs tailored to their needs. This work reflects my commitment to practical problem-solving, equity, and building systems that respond to people, not institutions.

What endorsements from any notable North Carolina organizations or people have you received? 

[Candidate did not respond]

How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?

9 years

Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.

One thing voters may find unexpected is that my passion for policy started early. In high school, I participated in the Alabama Youth Legislature, which is where I first fell in love with the policymaking process. In my senior yearbook, I wrote that I wanted to become a United States Senator, long before I ever imagined running for office. I’ve always been a bit of a political nerd, and that early curiosity has grown into a lifelong commitment to understanding how policy works and how it can be used to improve people’s lives.

Questionnaire from the Gaston Business Association

Please provide a short introduction (50 words or less) highlighting your background and achievements.

LaKesha Womack is a Charlotte-based strategist, nonprofit executive, and small-business advocate with 20 years of experience strengthening communities. A recipient of the Southeast Woman in Fintech Champion Award, she advances economic justice for working families, helps entrepreneurs access capital, and brings people-centered, results-driven leadership to North Carolina’s 14th District.

What motivated you to seek this office, and what specific skills, experiences, or perspectives uniquely prepare you to serve effectively in this role?

I’m running for Congress because too many working families are doing everything right and still falling behind. Through my work in economic development, faith leadership, and community finance, I’ve seen how federal policies shape real lives and how often those policies overlook people in the middle. I believe the government should be practical, accountable, and centered on dignity, opportunity, and fairness.

I bring a rare combination of strategic leadership, economic justice experience, and community engagement. I’ve helped small businesses access capital, guided nonprofits and boards through growth and crisis, and worked across sectors to turn ideas into results. That hands-on perspective, paired with policy fluency and deep community listening, prepares me to legislate with clarity, collaboration, and impact for North Carolina’s 14th District.

From your perspective, what are the top issues impacting Gaston County’s business climate and economic competitiveness? If elected, what specific actions would you support or pursue to strengthen our local economy?

Gaston County’s economic competitiveness is challenged by limited access to capital for small businesses, workforce skill gaps, infrastructure and broadband needs, and rising costs for working families. These issues constrain business growth, hiring, and local consumer demand. If elected, I would expand federal support for CDFIs and community lenders, strengthen workforce training and apprenticeship partnerships, invest in broadband and transportation infrastructure, and support policies that lower childcare and healthcare costs. My focus is on building a strong local economy where small businesses can grow, workers earn family-sustaining wages, and economic opportunity is broadly shared across Gaston County.

Given the office you are seeking (U.S. House, N.C. House, Sheriff, Commissioner, or School Board), what do you believe is the most pressing issue within the scope of that role, and how would you address it?

The most pressing issue within the scope of the U.S. House is restoring ecaonomic stability and trust for working families by making federal policy work in real, practical ways. Congress has direct authority over taxation, spending, labor standards, and oversight, yet too many families feel squeezed by rising costs while wages lag behind.

I would address this by advancing policies that lower the cost of living, health care, housing, and childcare, particularly, while supporting fair wages and responsible tax policy that rewards work and ensures corporations pay their fair share. Equally important, I would use the House’s oversight role to demand transparency and accountability in how federal programs are implemented, ensuring resources actually reach communities like North Carolina’s 14th District and produce measurable results.

Effective leadership requires collaboration across sectors. How would you work with local businesses, municipal leaders, and community organizations to advance shared goals?

Effective leadership starts with listening and building sustainable partnerships. I would maintain regular, structured engagement with local businesses, municipal leaders, and community organizations through roundtables, site visits, and issue-focused working groups to ensure federal priorities align with local realities.

I would use my role to convene stakeholders across sectors, help communities navigate federal resources, and advocate for policies shaped by those closest to the challenges. By sharing data and focusing on outcomes, not politics, I would work collaboratively to advance shared goals across North Carolina's diverse 14th District for economic growth, workforce development, infrastructure, and quality of life.