Bridges was an active member of the state Democratic Party throughout the 1850s. He represented McMinn County at the state Democratic Party convention in 1851, and was appointed by newly elected Democratic governor Andrew Johnson to the board of directors of the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad in 1854.
Throughout the 1850s, Bridges was an active participant in the state Democratic Party. In 1851, he served as a delegate from McMinn County at the party convention, and in 1854, Governor Andrew Johnson appointed him to the board of directors for the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad.