Page "Mike Mansfield" Paragraph 9

In 1940, Mansfield ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U. S. House of Representatives in Montana's 1st congressional district.

However, he ran for the same seat in 1942 and won, handily defeating Republican businessman Howard K. Hazelbaker.

He succeeded Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the Congress, who had decided not to seek re-election.