In 1902, Paterson ran as an independent candidate in a byelection for the provincial riding of
North Victoria prompted by the death of the incumbent,
John Paton Booth. He defeated a government-aligned candidate by 43 votes (12% of the votes cast). For the
1903 election, the North Victoria riding was abolished during redistribution, and Thomas ran as a Liberal candidate in the newly created riding of
The Islands. He defeated a Conservative candidate by 67 votes (19% of the votes cast). In the
1907 election, a new Conservative candidate won by 6 votes (2% of votes cast), and Thomas was unseated. In 1907, he was defeated when running for mayor of Victoria. From 1909 to 1914, he was the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. In 1912, he presented a cup to the
Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The cup was first won by the
New Westminster Royals, who were PCHA champions in the PCHA's first season. == Family and personal life ==