A recent candidate for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District is now seeking another kind of work, after claiming his campaign cost him his day job.

Justin DeWitt, a Democrat who challenged Rep. Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge) in this week’s election, was let go Thursday by SJB Group, a Baton Rouge-based land surveying firm. His exit came the same day that he planned to return to work, after taking eight permitted vacation days to campaign.

“It came as a shock to me,” he told BRProud.com. “About 36 hours after the election, I was no longer employed.”

DeWitt had worked at the firm since 2014, most recently as surveying party chief. He claims supervisors told him the company was downsizing, despite recent vehicle investments and worker bonuses — adding that he has been the only laid off worker of late. He suspects the termination was politically motivated.

“Either they’re just really horrible at timing with laying people off, or they’re sloppy,” he said. “Or maybe I’m a liability because I went up against a congressman who supposedly gets a lot of infrastructure work for the state.”

Graves won a third elected term Tuesday with 69 percent of the vote. DeWitt finished second with 21 percent. Democrat Andie Saizan won 8 percent, with independent Devin Lance Graham winning 2 percent.

In Louisiana, employees not under contracts or collective-bargaining agreements may often be let go for any or no reason, though state and federal laws forbid certain discrimination.

DeWitt, the first openly gay candidate to seek a Louisiana congressional seat, does not believe his sexual orientation triggered his ouster from the surveying firm. He admits discussing politics at work in the past, but claims he stopped doing so a year ago, following complaints.

Speaking to BRProud.com Friday, executives at SJB Group did not elaborate on DeWitt’s termination.

“Mr. DeWitt has left the organization, and the circumstances of his departure are confidential in accordance with employment law,” company president Wilfred Barry wrote in an email statement. “SJB Group wishes Mr. DeWitt the best of everything in his future endeavors.”

DeWitt says his story highlights the challenges that lower-profile candidates often face. Graves’ multimillion-dollar campaign towered over his competitors’ bankrolls.

“To anyone running for office, if you’re not already rich or the head of corporations, my advice is to prepare for a long and bumpy road,” DeWitt said. “It’s not all shaking hands and kissing babies.”

But even as the Democrat now seeks employment, he says his pursuit of public office was worth it.

“It was rewarding to see the people energized by my campaign,” he said. “I’d do it again.”

DeWitt is considering a run for the Louisiana Legislature in the coming years.

“It’s time to start with something at the state level,” he said. “Clearly we need to change some employment laws around here.”