His first attempt at entering the New Zealand House of Representatives was in April 1875, when he stood in the Rangitikei by-election. He performed poorly and of the three candidates, he came last with 11% of the vote. His father was successful in the City of Wellington electorate in the . Hutchison Jr announced his candidacy in the in the Waitotara electorate, but stood aside in favour of John Bryce; he instead stood in the electorate against Harry Atkinson but was unsuccessful. In the , he stood in the electorate.