In the 9th district, the Republican Hunter defeated Democratic incumbent Cecil F. White in a close race, capturing 76,015 votes to White's 70,201 votes, giving Hunter the 52%-48% margin. In 1952, Hunter was the delegate from California in the Republican National Convention. In that year's House election, Hunter ran unopposed for the seat in the state's 12th congressional district and won the election after capturing 99.3% of the vote.