He served in the Manitoba legislature from 1958 to 1966, as a representative of the social-democratic Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and its successor, the New Democratic Party.
Peters faced a strong challenge from Progressive Conservative candidate Emerson Snyder in the 1959 general election (in which the PCs won a majority government under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin).
Peters again faced a difficult re-election in 1962; he was again victorious,[1] but the difference between himself and the third-place candidate was less than three hundred votes.
Peters's electoral strength in Elmwood was based on his strong connection to unionized labour in the community.
He resigned from the legislature in 1966; the riding was subsequently held by Russell Doern, who turned it into a safer seat for the NDP.