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, Roy E. Ayers, the incumbent U.S. Congressman from Montana, sought to become Governor, while O'Connor ran for his congressional seat in Montana's 2nd district. O'Connor won the Democratic primary and easily defeated T. S. Stockdahl, the Republican nominee, in a decisive victory.