▁from ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁and ▁un success fully ▁sought ▁the ▁nom ination ▁for ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁he ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁as ▁a ▁Republican . ▁ ▁Ab dn or ▁ran ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁election ▁against ▁three - term ▁inc umb ent ▁and ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁Democratic ▁president ial ▁nom ine e ▁George ▁McG overn ▁for ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Senate . ▁Ab dn or ▁claimed ▁McG overn ▁was ▁out ▁of ▁touch ▁with ▁the ▁state ▁and ▁un se ated ▁him ▁by ▁a ▁large ▁margin . ▁During ▁his ▁term ▁as ▁a ▁sen ator , ▁Ab dn or ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁App ropri ations ▁Committee ▁and ▁cha ired ▁three ▁sub comm itte es , ▁including ▁the ▁Environment ▁and ▁Public ▁Works ▁Sub comm ittee . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁after ▁winning ▁by ▁a ▁wide ▁margin ▁a ▁bru ising ▁re - e lection ▁primary ▁campaign ▁against ▁then ▁Governor ▁Bill ▁J ank low , ▁Ab dn or ▁narrow ly ▁lost ▁his ▁Senate ▁seat ▁to ▁then - Re present ative ▁Tom ▁Das ch le . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁administrator ▁of ▁the ▁Small ▁Business ▁Administration ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁an ▁advis ory ▁capacity ▁for ▁John ▁Th une ' s ▁successful ▁campaign ▁against ▁Das ch le ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 .