bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ ˈæktɪv ɪn dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk pˈɑːɹɾi pˈɑːlətˌɪks, hˈɑːlɪfˌiːld wʌz tʃˈɛɹ ʌvðə lˌɑːs ˈændʒəlɪs kˈaʊnti dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk sˈɛntɹəl kəmˈɪɾi ʌvðə fˈɪfti fˈɜːst dˈɪstɹɪkt fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi fˈoːɹ tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi ˈeɪt.
Becoming active in Democratic Party politics, Holifield was chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central committee of the 51st District from 1934 to 1938.