Kolb was active in the
Farmer's Alliance. While a Democrat, Kolb generally opposed the policies of the
Redeemers (conservative Southern Democrats), and styled himself as a
Jeffersonian Democrat. Unlike the Redeemers, who sought to disenfranchise black voters, Kolb usually supported their political rights, at least initially. However, Kolb ended up supporting the
Alabama Constitution of 1901 which took away the vote from blacks, as well as many poor whites. He has been characterized politically as "a faithful and partisan Democrat who preached the gospel of
white supremacy and modern agriculture to his struggling neighbors...." Kolb lost the election 115,732 (47.5%) running as an Independent Democrat (with some Republican and Populist support) to Jones 126,955 (52.2%). Two years later as a Populist nominee, he tried to create a coalition of black voters (Republicans) and disenchanted white Populists, but lost to W.C. Oates (Dem) 83,292 (42.9%) to 110,875 (57.1%). ==Death==