As a child he attended public schools and moved on to Stanford University one year early with a degree in economics.

In 1900, Storke borrowed $2,000 (equivalent to $70,000 in 2023) and bought the Santa Barbara Daily Independent, the least favored newspaper in town.

[2] A Democrat in politics, Storke was appointed to the United States Senate by Republican California Governor Frank F. Merriam on November 9, 1938, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Gibbs McAdoo the day before.

In 1958 Storke wrote California Editor, a lengthy memoir rich in local Santa Barbara history.

These included the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, for Editorial Writing in 1962, the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College.

[3] Storke used his political clout to help obtain the present UCSB campus, over 900 coastal acres (3.6 km2) and a former military installation, from the US Government under the college land grant program.