hargis was elected as a democrat to the eighty-sixth congress (january 3, 1959 – january 3, 1961). he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the eighty-seventh congress. he served as a consultant for the department of defense from 1961 to 1962, and the department of commerce from 1962 to 1966. he was the manager and later owner of several title insurance companies in florida until his retirement in 1985.