He was a member of the Minnesota Senate, 1935–1949; delegate to the 1948 Republican National Convention and 1952 Republican National Convention. He was elected the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota in 1952. He served less than one year (January 5, 1953- May 1, 1953). He resigned to become administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration Program, in Washington, D.C., 1953–1956; He was elected as a Republican to the US House of Representatives in 1958 and served in Congress; from January 3, 1959, to December 31, 1974, in the 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, and 93rd congresses.