Willis ran unsuccessfully for Bourke in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1887, but won it as a Protectionist in 1889 and held it to 1894. Willis founded the Truth in 1890.
Willis made an unsuccessful bid for Bourke in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1887, but ultimately secured the seat as a member of the Protectionist party in 1889 and held it until 1894. In 1890, Willis founded the newspaper The Truth.