 At the 1889 election, he was the third candidate on the Protectionist list and won the last position in the multi-member seat of Newcastle.However, Grahame was forced to resign from parliament in October 1889 when he became insolvent and he was defeated by James Curley at the subsequent by-election.He regained his seat in April 1891 at a by-election caused by the death of James Fletcher.