He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta sitting with the governing Social Credit caucus from 1935 until his death in 1939.

He swept to power with almost 60% of the popular vote in the Stony Plain electoral district.

He defeated three other candidates in the race including United Farmers incumbent Donald Macleod who finished a distant third.

[1] Hayes died on April 2, 1939, from a reported heart seizure late into his first term in office at his home in Stony Plain, Alberta.

A large portion of the Social Credit caucus turned out including Premier William Aberhart.