Carl Boyanton (left) and Congressman Mike Ezell (right)
- Independent candidate Carl Boyanton is accusing 4th District Congressman Mike Ezell of receiving illegal contributions. Ezell’s campaign says they are reporting Boyanton for making a false statement to a federal agency.
Perennial candidate Carl Boyanton has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that Congressman Mike Ezell received $217,000 in illegal campaign contributions tied to defense contractors that received a $951 million Coast Guard contract.
The complaint filed in June centers on members of the Chouest family, owners of defense contractors Edison Chouest Offshore and Bollinger Shipyards.
Boyanton, a South Mississippi small-business owner and agricultural entrepreneur, alleges that Ezell, who serves as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, received contributions from seven members of the Chouest family in excess of maximum allowable individual contribution limits.
“South Mississippians deserve a representative who answers to them, not to wealthy campaign donors or defense contractors seeking special favors,” Boyanton said.
Upon review of Boyanton’s complaint and Ezell’s filings, it appears that Boyanton could be double counting the contributions received by the Ezell Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee with the NRCC. Yet, that remains to be determined officially by the FEC. If that is the case, and the FEC finds as such, there would be no excessive contributions.
Notably, individuals associated with a federal contractor are not prohibited from personally making campaign contributions.
In response to the allegations, Ezell campaign spokesman Josh Gregory said Congressman Ezell’s campaign is in compliance with the law.
“While Mr. Boyanton’s allegations are obviously a political stunt, making a false statement to a federal agency, such as the FEC, is illegal and we will be reporting him for doing that,” Gregory said. “In the meantime, voters will have their say when they defeat him for the fourth time on November 3.”
Boyanton, who has run unsuccessfully for the 4th Congressional District every two years since 2020, is running again this midterm cycle, this time as an Independent candidate. Boyanton previously ran as a Republican in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
Boyanton lost to former Congressman Steven Palazzo (R) in a four-man GOP primary in 2020, coming in last with just over 9% of the vote.
In 2022, Palazzo faced six challengers in the Republican Primary, of which Boyanton was one. Boyanton finished fifth with nearly 5% of the vote. He went on to endorse Ezell in the runoff against Palazzo where Ezell won.
Boyanton then ran against Ezell in 2024, coming in second in a three-man GOP primary and pulling in nearly 19% of the vote.
Ezell and Boyanton will meet on the November 3 General Election ballot along with Democrat State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum.
