His father Henry M. Richardson was an early settler of Olmsted County, Minnesota and was involved in local and state Republican politics.

He went on to practice law in Rochester with his brother, Harold James Richardson, who was also a lawyer.

He was later elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1926 and re-elected a further five times through 1942.

While he was never formally sworn into office, as president pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate he was next in the line of succession.

[2] He also served as the acting president of the Minnesota Senate in 1937 as the Lieutenant Governor-elect Gottfrid Lindsten was unable to perform his duties due to illness.