Wilson decided to enter politics and in 1940 he narrowly defeated
New Deal Democrat incumbent
Eugene B. Crowe 71,624–69,227 and was elected as the
Republican Representative for
Indiana's 9th congressional district. He served in the
United States Congress until 1958, when he was defeated by
Earl Hogan for reelection. In 1960, he defeated Hogan and was returned to Congress in 1961. Wilson won reelection in 1962.]. In 1964 Wilson was defeated for reelection by Democrat Lee Hamilton 74,939 – 62,780. Wilson did not vote in favor of the
Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and
1964, despite voting in favor of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the first House vote on February 10, 1964. While in Congress, Wilson was influential in moving
Samuel Woodfill's body from Madison, Indiana to
Arlington National Cemetery. == Later career and death ==