The following year, Bowman became the president of the Brisbane District Council of the Australian Labour Federation (ALF).

[1] Bowman's first attempt at entering politics was at the 1893 colonial election in the seat South Brisbane, losing out to Harry Turley and Charles Midson in the two member electorate.

Bowman, the sole opponent, filed a petition against Hood's return and on 21 November 1899, the election was declared void.

[1] Bowman stood again at the 1904 election in the north eastern Brisbane seat of Fortitude Valley where he was victorious.

By 1905, he had joined Albert Hinchcliffe and Mat Reid, secretary and president of the Central Political Executive, and Henry Boote, editor of The Worker, in opposing the continuation of the Liberal-Labor coalition, now dominated by William Kidston.

[1] In 1948, the newly proclaimed Queensland federal electoral division of Bowman was named in honour.

Bowman Park at Simpsons Road Bardon (at that time known as 'Upper Paddington') was also named in his honour, shortly after his death in 1916.