In 1936 incumbent United States Congressman Roy E. Ayers ran for Governor and O'Connor ran to succeed him in Montana's 2nd congressional district. O'Connor won the Democratic primary and defeated T. S. Stockdahl, the Republican nominee, in a landslide.
In 1936, incumbent U.S. Congressman Roy E. Ayers ran for Governor, while O'Connor sought to replace him in Montana's 2nd congressional district. O'Connor won the Democratic primary and decisively beat T. S. Stockdahl, the Republican nominee, in a crushing victory.