Howard was elected as a Democrat to the 62nd United States Congress, and re-elected to three succeeding Congressional terms (March 4, 1911 – March 4, 1919). He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1918 for nomination for the United States Senate.
Howard was chosen as a Democrat to serve in the 62nd U.S. Congress, and he won re-election for three consecutive terms (March 4, 1911 – March 4, 1919). He failed to secure the nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1918.