Cyclone Davis was an unsuccessful Populist candidate for Attorney General of Texas in 1892 and he was influential in the formation of the People's Party, serving as organizer and committeeman from 1892 to 1900. He ran for Congress as a Populist candidate for election in 1894, but he was defeated. He declined the appointment as Superintendent of Agriculture for the Philippines in 1914. He was elected as a Democrat to the 64th United States Congress (1915–1917) defeating incumbent Democrat Daniel E. Garrett of Houston.