Hlynka was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1940 federal election. At the time, the Vegreville Social Credit organization had a two-stage nomination process: delegates elected three candidates at a nomination meeting, one of whom was later chosen by an Advisory Board. Hylnka received the greatest number of votes in a field of five candidates, and was confirmed by the Advisory Board after a formal interview. The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), William Hayhurst, had been eliminated in the first round of voting. The second-place candidate, Paul Lesiuk, officially challenged the Advisory Board's decision, and Hlynka's candidacy had to be reaffirmed by Alberta Premier William Aberhart and his cabinet.