Lone Johnson challenger sees candidacy as ‘duty’

Fourth District Congressional candidate Joshua Morott said he hates politics but feels duty-bound to try to unseat incumbent Rep. Mike Johnson in this fall’s election.

“I only got into the race because of duty,” Morott said. “I don’t trust anyone to do the right thing anymore.”

Morott, a Republican from Slagle, an unincorporated community in Vernon Parish, is Johnson’s lone opponent in the Nov. 5 race. Lincoln Parish is in the newly reconfigured 4th District.

Morott describes himself as “just a normal guy.” He acknowledges he’s had legal troubles that led to his arrest, but said the issues stemmed from his divorce.

Morott is a first-time candidate running on a platform that he said would restore power to the people. Johnson, a Bossier Parish Republican who’s also U.S. House speaker, is seeking his fifth term.

“I believe in choice,” Morott said. “If you don’t like Mike Johnson, you should at least have a choice.”

The 41-year-old substitute teacher, former insurance agent, and father of two, acknowledges he was arrested in Rapides Parish in 2021 and in Denton County, Texas. Both incidents grew out of his divorce, he said.

“I don’t have any convictions, but I have been arrested in the past,” Morott said in a telephone interview July 22.

Records obtained from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office show Morott served 50 days in the Rapides Parish Detention Center in the summer of 2021 for a contempt of court citation Morott said came at the request of his ex-wife’s lawyer.

“I was not being a submissive puppy dog,” he said. “It was my first time being divorced. I didn’t have any clue the whole thing was set up like a trial.”

Morott claims he’s been a victim of the system.

When asked whether his past legal issues will matter in the campaign he said, “Absolutely not.”

An arrest record does not preclude Morott from seeking office or from serving if elected.

In 2023, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of improper influence in Denton County, Texas, and served time there. Court records indicate the incident happened in 2021.

Improper influence in Texas law is basically attempting to influence the outcome of court proceedings.

Morott was also charged with stalking; he was indicted on that charge in 2022, online court records show.

According to the records, a jury trial had been scheduled for June, but was cancelled with a new court date set for Aug. 21. Stalking is a thirddegree felony in Texas, the second lowest of five felony classifications.

When contacted earlier this week for an opportunity to address these charges, he again said the incidents stem from his divorce, then said, “This sounds more like a hit piece than anything else,” and after another remark hung up the phone.

In the initial interview about his candidacy, Morott accused Johnson of playing with “the power of speaker.” He said Johnson has moved away from some of his original stances since becoming speaker.

“Mr. Johnson was supposed to be the real deal,” he said.

Morott endorsed term limits and pledged to serve only two terms if elected.

He said the United States should pull out of NATO — a group he called a “bully” — and from the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum.

His platform calls for “stripping public colleges of their non- profit status until tuition becomes affordable and ensuring profits from college sports are not exploited for outrageous salaries,” curtailing foreign aid and refocusing on domestic issues, beefing up border security, and ending what he sees as excessive congressional spending on pork projects.

Morott further said he opposes diversity, equity and inclusion hiring and that all DEI hires should be fired.