Career
He was already engaged in the smallholder movements in his early years. With István Szabó de Nagyatád he founded the Smallholders Party in Heves County. He was appointed secretary of state of the Ministry of Food in January 1919, but he resigned before the establishing of the Hungarian Soviet Republic.
He was a minister without portfolio in the István Friedrich cabinet.
After that István Bethlen appointed him Minister of Food (14 April 1921 - 29 June 1921) and later Minister of Agriculture (3 December 1921 - 16 June 1922). He reappointed agriculture minister in 1924, Mayer held this position until 1931.
He was the chairman of the Unity Party until 1 November 1924. After the death of István Szabó de Nagyatád he was the leader of the smallholders group which supported Bethlen.