Edwin Norris graduated from Southern Normal School and was admitted to the Montana bar. He served in the Montana State Senate, culminating in a term as Senate President. Norris held the office of Montana's Lieutenant Governor before becoming Governor in 1908. During his tenure as governor, he enacted significant reforms, including anti-discrimination laws for life insurance and liability for mine operators concerning employee disabilities. He also championed infrastructure development through the use of prison labor, overseeing the construction of over 230 miles of roads.

Edwin Norris's political identity is marked by a unique blend of progressive social policies and economically conservative measures. His advocacy for laws prohibiting life insurance discrimination and holding mine operators accountable for employee disabilities demonstrates a progressive stance on labor rights. However, his support for using prison labor to build roads reveals a more economically conservative approach, leveraging state resources in a controversial manner. This juxtaposition of progressive and conservative policies presents an intriguing tension in Norris's political philosophy.