In 1936, the Democrat Towey decided to run for the
House of Representatives seat for
New Jersey's 12th congressional district. He was set to face eleven-term incumbent
Republican Frederick R. Lehlbach. In a very close election, Towey beat the incumbent Lehlbach, capturing 54,688 votes in comparison to his 54,363, giving Towey a 49.9%–49.6% victory. Towey would only serve one term in the
House of Representatives. In the
1938 House elections, Towey faced Republican challenger
Robert W. Kean, a member of the
New Jersey Kean political family. Towey lost to Kean by a nearly 14% margin. Towey resumed his law practice in Newark. From 1940 to 1947, he served as a member of the state's Selective Appeal Board. In 1943, he became assistant to the
United States Attorney General, remaining in this position until 1955. ==Death==