Herman O. Kent spent his formative years in Wisconsin, where he attended local public schools and a German-language parochial school. He apprenticed in the printing trade, becoming a skilled linotype operator. Kent was an active member of the trade union movement and joined the Social Democratic Party in 1908. He began his legislative career by winning an Assembly seat in 1914, focusing on education and labor issues through his committee assignments.

Herman O. Kent's political identity is marked by a blend of early 20th-century socialist principles with a hands-on approach to labor and education issues. His legislative focus on education and statutory revision alongside his labor committee assignments reveals a commitment to systemic reforms. Despite his socialist roots, Kent's nuanced approach to economic issues, informed by his experience as a skilled trade unionist and linotype operator, suggests a pragmatic yet principled stance. His gubernatorial campaign, garnering nearly 40,000 votes, underscores a persistent, if not always successful, effort to advance progressive policies.