ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn, ɪn wʌt wʌz dᵻskɹˈaɪbd æz ˈeɪ "bɹˈɪsk, klˈoʊs ænd ˈɜːnɪst" nˌɑːmᵻnˈeɪʃən kˈɑːntɛst, bˈuːlɪɡni wʌz sᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ɹˈʌn æz ðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən pˈɑːɹɾi kˈændᵻdˌeɪt fɔːɹ luːˌiːzɪˈænəz fˈɜːst kəŋɡɹˈɛʃənəl dˈɪstɹɪkt.
In 1859, in what was described as a "brisk, close and earnest" nomination contest, Bouligny was selected to run as the American Party candidate for Louisiana's 1st congressional district.