From 1920 to 1935 he served as editor of the Weston Democrat. He held the office of mayor of Weston from 1924 to 1926 and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1928 and 1952. He was state chairman of the Democratic executive committee from 1928 to 1932. He was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lynn Hornor. Re-elected to the Seventy-fourth and to three succeeding Congresses, he served from November 28, 1933, to January 3, 1943. His candidacy for re-election in 1942 was unsuccessful. He then returned to his former business pursuits. On June 28, 1943, he was appointed Director of War Manpower for West Virginia and served until his resignation on June 30, 1945, to return to private business. He died in Weston on August 28, 1966, aged 73. He was buried in Machpelah Cemetery.