Curlin was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-second Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative John C. Watts and served in Congress (from December 4, 1971, through January 3, 1973).
Curlin was selected as a Democrat to represent the Ninety-second Congress following a special election that replaced the late U.S. Representative John C. Watts, serving from December 4, 1971, until January 3, 1973.