 Aguilar served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 24th district from 2002 to 2004, becoming the only Hispanic American of his party in the General Assembly.Aguilar was defeated in 2004 by Democrat Michelle Chavez in a race that was thought to be non-competitive.He had allegedly asked Chavez, a friend, to run for his office as a "ghost candidate," so that he would have an easy re-election race.