He attended public schools, Minneapolis School of Business, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Howard served as a clerk in the post office in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1901.

He worked in the insurance business in Minneapolis in 1901, and was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket in 1916.

Howard was elected on November 3, 1936, to the United States Senate from Minnesota as a Republican.

He was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas D. Schall and served from November 4, 1936, to January 3, 1937, in the 74th congress.

After the Senate, Howard returned to the insurance business and died in Minneapolis on August 20, 1954.