Newton Booth graduated from Asbury College and studied law, gaining admission to the bar in 1849. He ventured into business, establishing multiple firms in California, though these faced challenges from the Sacramento Fire. He amassed wealth through saloon keeping and returned to practicing law. Booth transitioned into politics, campaigning for Abraham Lincoln and subsequently serving in the California State Senate and as governor of California. He was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he chaired key committees on manufacturing and patents.

Newton Booth's political identity is marked by a distinctive anti-monopoly stance that transcends traditional party lines. He organized the Dolly Vardens, an independent, republican, anti-monopoly party, and later joined the Anti-Monopoly Party. Booth's legislative focus on anti-monopoly policies and his chairmanship of key Senate committees reveal a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. His efforts to court black support further illustrate an ideologically agile strategy, blending progressive social outreach with economic conservatism.