Career
James was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Little Bow for the Alberta Liberal Party in a hotly contested race against popular southern Alberta merchant John T. McDonald in the 1913 Alberta general election. The Calgary Herald claimed it was caused by "Siftonism" running rampant through the province. In that same election the Liberals were also accused of gerrymandering Little Bow to be very liberal-friendly.
James was easily re-elected in a landslide in the 1917 Alberta general election.
H. Thomas of the Socialist Party was the only other candidate during the election. Turn out in Little Bow was at its lowest ever with only 35% of the population turning out.
James McNaughton was handily defeated by future speaker Oran McPherson from the United Farmers of Alberta in the 1921 Alberta general election.
