In 1850, Wright was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, but in 1852, was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1854. He was again elected to the Thirty-seventh Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George W. Scranton. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fifth Congress and reelected as a Greenbacker to the Forty-sixth Congress. He was chairman of the United States House Committee on Manufactures during the Forty-fifth Congress.