From 1957 to 1973, Scariano served in the
Illinois House of Representatives and was a
Democrat. Along with
Abner Mikva,
Paul Simon,
Robert E. Mann, and
Dawn Clark Netsch, Scariano helped form a group of liberal, anti-machine Democrats in the House known as the "Kosher Nostra". In 1972, Scariano as an unsuccessful candidate for the
Illinois Senate, losing to Republican candidate and fellow state representative
Don Moore. From 1973 to 1984, Scariano served on the Illinois Racing Board. ==Judicial career==