Sullivan served as the county attorney for
Washington County, Minnesota starting in 1891 and was appointed municipal attorney of
Stillwater, Minnesota in 1901, serving until 1907. He was first elected to the Minnesota senate seat representing the 31st district in 1907, representing Washington County. He served the same county for the remainder of his life after redistricting changed it to district 43. and continued serving as senator after
Thomas Frankson won that election.
The Wilcox-Sullivan Contest Sullivan lost the 1918 senatorial election against W. W. Wilcox by a margin of 43 votes. Sullivan requested a recount, which found that Wilcox had won by 35 votes. However, Wilcox's campaign literature was found within 50 feet of a voting booth on election day, in violation of the state's fair campaign practices act. Wilcox's seat was declared vacant after only 26 days in office and a special election was held, which Sullivan won. == References ==