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Clements began his political career in Union County in southwestern Kentucky. In 1935, he served as the chairman of the gubernatorial campaign of Thomas Stockdale Rhea, Sr. (1871-1946), of Logan County. In taking this role, Clements turned down an offer from Happy Chandler to chair Chandler's own 1935 campaign for governor. As a result, a rift developed between Clements and Chandler. Clements served in the Kentucky State Senate from 1941 to 1944, by which time he had been selected as Democratic floor leader of the body. He campaigned for a larger budget than that proposed by [[Republican Party|Republican]] Governor [[Simeon Willis]]. This stand against Willis increased Clements' popularity within the Democratic Party. He went on to serve two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1945 to 1947.

Clements began his political career in Union County in southwestern Kentucky. In 1935, he served as the chairman of the gubernatorial campaign of Thomas Stockdale Rhea, Sr. (1871-1946), of Logan County. In taking this role, Clements turned down an offer from Happy Chandler to chair Chandler's own 1935 campaign for governor. As a result, a rift developed between Clements and Chandler. Clements served in the Kentucky State Senate from 1941 to 1944, by which time he had been selected as Democratic floor leader of the body. He campaigned for a larger budget than that proposed by [[Republican Party|Republican]] Governor [[Simeon Willis]]. This stand against Willis increased Clements' popularity within the Democratic Party. He went on to serve two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1945 to 1947.

Clements was elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1941 for Henderson, Webster, and Union counties.<ref name=powell100/> By 1944, he had risen to the post of majority leader of the state Senate and played a central role in writing the state budget that year.<ref name=harrison206/> He then began the first of his two terms as a U.S. Representative.  

Clements was elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1941 for Henderson, Webster, and Union counties. By 1944, he had risen to the post of majority leader of the state Senate and played a central role in writing the state budget that year.<ref name=harrison206/> He then began the first of his two terms as a U.S. Representative.  

In December 1947, Clements left Congress to succeed Governor Willis. He defeated Chandler's preferred candidate, Harry Lee Waterfield (1911-1988), in the Democratic [[primary]]. During the campaign, Waterfield proposed a tax on parimutuel betting which Clements at the time opposed.<ref name=klotter330/> Waterfield also favored the development of electric power generation through public utilities. Clements, however, supported private development.<ref name=klotter331>Klotter, p. 331.</ref>  

In December 1947, Clements left Congress to succeed Governor Willis. He defeated Chandler's preferred candidate, Harry Lee Waterfield (1911-1988), in the Democratic [[primary]]. During the campaign, Waterfield proposed a tax on parimutuel betting which Clements at the time opposed.<ref name=klotter330/> Waterfield also favored the development of electric power generation through public utilities. Clements, however, supported private development.<ref name=klotter331>Klotter, p. 331.</ref>