After the death of serving member, Francis Kates, in 1903, Watson won the resulting by-election for the seat of Cunningham in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.Member For Cunningham — The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 14 March 2016. He held the seat for less than a year, being beaten at the 1904 state election by the Ministerial candidate, Francis Grayson.Cunningham (1) — The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
