following the war, he returned to his law practice. upon the restoration of his citizenship, pugh was president of the democratic state convention of 1874, a delegate to the 1875 state constitutional convention, and a presidential elector again in 1876. he was elected to fill the term left by the death of george s. houston, and was reelected twice, serving in the senate from november 24, 1880 to march 4, 1897. he lost renomination.