an unanimous vote in 1950, rather than the faction led by Earl Smith. Tennessee legislature Elections During the 1906 election White was endorsed by the Meigs County Republican Party for a seat in the state house from Meigs and Rhea counties despite him stating that he was not interested in running. John Neal, a member of the Democratic Party who represented the district, sought election to the state senate in the 1908 election. White was elected with the Republican nomination to succeed him. White was the chair of the Rhea County Republican Convention in 1910, and the convention endorsed him for a seat in the state senate from the 9th district. The 9th District Republican Senatorial Convention gave him the nomination by acclamation and he was elected to succeed Neal. He was the youngest member of the state senate for that session. White was defeated by Democratic nominee Lewis Shepherd Pope in the 1912 election. U.S. Senator Newell Sanders gave White a job as a clerk for the Congressional Post Office after his defeat. White defeated incumbent Democratic Representative Grover Harris in the 1932 election for a seat in the state house from the 10th district. Democratic nominee Sue K. Hicks, who worked with White on the prosecution during the Scopes trial, defeated him in the 1934 election by twenty votes. White accused there of being fraud in the election, but the state house seated Hicks following the recommendation of an investigatory committee. White defeated Democratic nominee George McKenzie in the 1936 election. He lost to Democratic nominee Herschel Denton by six vote in the 1938 election. White contested the results of the election and claimed there was fraud. He filed a petition with the Tennessee Election Commission seeking the removal of Ed Godsey and F.A. Grubb from the Meigs County Election Commission. White later withdrew his contest against Denton, who was seated. White defeated Democratic nominee R.J. Jaco in the 1940 election. He was reelected in 1942 and 1944. He defeated Democratic nominee D.F. Pope and independent candidate Carroll Tallent in the 1946 election. Smith challenged White for the Republican nomination during the 1948 election and both claimed victory in the primary. Glenn Woodlee ordered the arrest of C.H. Smith, chair of the Rhea County Republican primary board and Earl's father, for not releasing an official canvass of the primary vote. He was fined $500 for contempt of court.