In 1912, MacDonald ran as a candidate for the Progressive Party against incumbent RepublicanH. Olin Young to the United States House of Representatives from the Michigan's 12th congressional district. Although unofficial returns showed that MacDonald had won the seat, some votes were not included in the official count by the state board of canvassers due to a mistake in how MacDonald's name appeared on the ballot in Ontonagon County.[1][2] H. Olin Young presented credentials as a Member-elect to the 63rd United States Congress and served from March 4, 1913, until his resignation, effective May 16, 1913, while a contest for the seat was pending. Subsequently, the House Committee on Elections unanimously reported a resolution to the full house awarding the 12th District seat to MacDonald, who took the oath of office August 26, 1913[3] and served until March 3, 1915.[4][5] In 1914 and again in 1916, MacDonald lost to Republican William F. James. MacDonald and Roy O. Woodruff (10th district) were the only two Michigan residents elected to the U.S. House from the Progressive Party.