 In June 1956 Cherberg announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.Capitalizing on name recognition from his football career and the statewide contacts he'd developed as the head of the state's association of high school football coaches, he won the Democratic primary by defeating Howard S. Bargreen, and the general election by defeating Republican Don McDermott.Cherberg was inaugurated as Washington's lieutenant governor on January 16, 1957, under fellow Democrat Albert Rosellini.