He worked as a broker and was president of the Roblin Loan & Investment Co.[2] He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election held on February 4, 1911, in the constituency of Russell,[3] defeating Liberal William Valens by 265 votes.
The Roblin government was forced to resign amid scandal in 1915,[4] and the Conservatives were badly defeated in that year's provincial election.
He resigned his seat in 1917,[3] after a report of the province's Paterson Commission found evidence of road frauds in his constituency.
[5] Newton sought a return to the legislature in the 1920 provincial election, but lost to Farmer candidate Henry Robson Richardson[3] by 104 votes.
[3] The election was won by the United Farmers of Manitoba, and Newton served on the opposition benches.