 When Nipissing became an electoral district in 1890, Loughrin was selected Reform candidate and defeated Liberal-Conservative David Purvis of North Bay.In 1894 he was re-elected over Independent Conservative Steven Fournier of Sudbury and in his last electoral campaign in 1898 defeated Charles Lamarche.In 1893 he ended partnership with T. & W. Murray and in 1894 purchased the Mattawa hardware business of Messrs. Dunlop & Co.