 Following his term as governor , McCreary returned to his legal practice . In 1884 , he sought election to Congress from Kentucky 's Eighth District . His opponents for the Democratic nomination were Milton J. Durham and Philip B. Thompson , Jr . , both of whom had held the district 's seat previously . McCreary bested both men , and in the general election in November , defeated Republican James Sebastian by a margin of 2 @,@ 146 votes . It was the largest margin of victory by a Democrat in the Eighth District . 
