Trowbridge ran for office at least two times before his appointment to the Assembly. He was the Republican nominee for Assembly seat 20 back in 1982. He lost to Democratic incumbent Robert G. Craddock by a margin of 54-43%. He also ran for Las Vegas City Council in 2009, narrowly losing to Stavros Anthony 50.08-49.92%. In the June 16 primary, Trowbridge lost to businessman Jim Marchant by a margin of 62.5-37.5%. His loss attributed to his support of a state commerce tax that was proposed and signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.
