Vidalies' political career began in 1976 as an assistant to Landes MP Roger Duroure before becoming a councillor for Mont-de-Marsan South in 1979, a post he would hold until 2007.

[2] He made his way in local politics until he was elected to the National Assembly on behalf of Landes' 1st constituency in 1988, and spent his time campaigning for better employment conditions.

[2] He was also re-elected in 1997, and helped to reform family law, particularly in relation to alimony,[2] and the 35-hour working week.

[3] On 26 August 2014 Vidalies was appointed Secretary of State for Transport, the Sea and Fisheries (Secrétaire d’État chargé des Transports, de la Mer et de la Pêche), a junior minister of cabinet rank within the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, in the Second Valls Government.

Incidents during this time have included the 2015 Thalys train attack and the 2016 strikes in protest against his government's changes to employment law and the 35-hour week.