In 1940 he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council as the Labor candidate to represent Launceston, beating the elderly Independent Frank Hart.
[1] McElwee joined the Launceston City Council's electrical department as an apprentice in 1896.
[2] McElwee was abruptly dismissed in March 1939 and paid one month's salary in lieu of notice.
[2] McElwee eventually rejoined the council and retired in 1952 at the age of 73, as the electrical engineer in charge of the Launceston trolleybuses.
[4] McElwee ran unsuccessfully in the Division of Bass at the 1934 federal election, standing on a social credit platform.