ɡˈæləɡɚ wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə kˈɑːŋɡɹəs æz ɐ ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚɹ ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː, dᵻfˈiːɾɪŋ θɹˈiːtˈɜːm dˌɛməkɹˈæɾɪk ɪŋkˈʌmbənt lˈiːɑːn sˈæks.
Gallagher was elected to Congress as a Republican in November of 1942, defeating three-term Democratic incumbent Leon Sacks.