[2] Budd served a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives, refusing the Democratic Party nomination for the 1886 elections.

[4] Budd also advocated a property assessment ceiling cap of 45 cents per $100 in order to save state expenditures with the looming Long Depression.

During the often bitter campaign for the governorship, Budd faced serious allegations brought forth by Republican-sympathizing newspapers that he had raped a teenage maid, Nancy Neff, in 1876.

Budd fully denied all the allegations, branding his betrayal of Neff as an "infamous falsehood" imagined by Republican party machines.

He gained favorable attention during the campaign by personally quieting a runaway team of horses, as well as helping extinguish a fire in Willows.

[6] In the final results, Budd edged out Republican Party challenger Morris M. Estee by 0.4%, or roughly 1,200 votes.

[7] The strong third place showing of Jonathan V. Webster of the People's Party at 18% helped tip the vote balance in Budd's favor.

Due in part to his narrow electoral victory, Republicans alleged Budd had engaged in voter fraud.

In the early stage of his governorship, Budd encouraged improvements to the Australian ballot, consolidating or eliminating superfluous state departments and positions to save revenue, and amend the Constitution of California in order to create stricter qualification requirements for State Railroad Commission members.