He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, and served as U.S. Representative from Delaware.

Warburton was admitted to the Delaware Bar in absentia in 1942 and began a practice following his return from the Army in 1946.

Warburton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1952, defeating Democrat Joseph J. Scannell.

In 1954 he did not seek another term in the U.S. House, but unsuccessfully sought the United States Senate seat of incumbent Democrat J. Allen Frear Jr.

Following his congressional service, Warburton was appointed special assistant to United States Secretary of Labor, James P. Mitchell, from 1955 until 1957, general counsel for the Post Office Department from 1957 until 1961, and minority counsel to the U.S. House Government Operations subcommittee, serving there from 1961 to 1964.