In 1957, Howard Thelin was elected to the California State Assembly from a safe Republican seat in Glendale. He held that office for ten years, during which time both conservatism and the Republican party changed considerably and the legislature enacted much of the Democratic party platform. Defeated in the 1966 Republican senate primary by a more conservative candidate, he was appointed to the municipal court and in 1976 to the superior court, both times by Democratic governors.
From the description of Oral history interview with Howard J. Thelin : oral history transcript / By Lawrence B. de Graaf, Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives, 1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 214934378
