English's first job in politics was as a staff member for the majority caucus of the California State Assembly. Later, he worked as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving as the executive director of the Oklahoma Democratic Party (from 1969 to 1973), English was elected as a Democrat to Congress representing Oklahoma's 6th Congressional District (in November 1974). English was re-elected to Congress nine times. He was one of the most conservative Democrats in the chamber, which was not surprising given the nature of his district. It spanned from the Oklahoma Panhandle to northeastern Oklahoma City, including along the way some of the most rural and conservative territory in Oklahoma.