 He was elected as a Democrat to the 71st United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of David J. O'Connell, and was re-elected to the 72nd, 73rd and 74th United States Congresses, holding office from February 17, 1931 until his death on March 31, 1936.He died on March 31, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York City, aged 61.State Senator Roy H. Rudd (1906–1997) was his son.