Supported by the Democrats, Fauset ran for state legislature in 1938. She became the first female African American state legislator in the United States after being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent the 18th District of Philadelphia, which was a primarily white neighborhood at the time. She had won by 7,000 votes and had gained strong support from women through her telephone campaign. She was one of the first American politicians to utilize telephoning in her campaign. Fauset promised her constituents: "I shall work for legislation that affects the general welfare of the people regardless of color. Of her victory, she commented: "My interest is in no way limited to my race, but is universal."
