 In the general election, he defeated Albia, Iowa Postmaster Ruth F. Hollingshead, the first woman to run for Congress in Iowa, and began serving in 1939.In his first term, he served on the Committee on Public Lands and the Committee on Insular Affairs.He was re-elected to his 5th district seat in 1940, before redistricting in 1941 retitled the same set of counties as Iowa's 4th congressional district.