[5] In 1928, he was the Socialist nominee for Congress from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, losing to Republican incumbent John Schafer in a three-way race.

[7] He again served as the Socialist nominee for Congress in 1932, coming in third in a four-way contest which saw Raymond Cannon oust incumbent Schafer.

[11] He also worked briefly as an organizer for the Socialist Party, before being fired (allegedly for his announced intention to run for the Senate against a candidate endorsed by the Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation.

[12] In August 1939, when his wife filed for divorce, he was working as a bartender; the couple at that time had two adult children, and a 17-year-old daughter, Phyllis.

[14] He sought the Democratic nomination in a 1949 special election,[15] but campaigned openly as a Socialist, denouncing plans to introduce a "right to work" bill in the legislature.