He presented his credentials as a member-elect to the 38th United States Congress in December 1863, but was not permitted a seat because voting had been limited in the war-torn counties of the 7th District.

In October 1878, Kitchen was elected as a Greenback Party candidate[4] to the 14th West Virginia House of Delegates, which convened from January through March 1879.

[9] In a petition dated December 28, 1863, Kitchen and other Unionist citizens of Berkeley County requested that President Abraham Lincoln reinstate General Robert H. Milroy to command of Federal troops in the Shenandoah Valley.

[10] Milroy had been reassigned after a delayed retreat and defeat by Confederate Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell at the Second Battle of Winchester on June 15, 1863.

[12] Kitchen's daughter sneaked onto a second-story porch and played a bugle call, convincing the Confederates that Federal cavalry were approaching.

[12] After the Confederates fled, Kitchen quickly left Berkeley County and returned to the congressional session in Washington, DC.

The Unionist citizens adopted a set of resolutions denouncing slavery and endorsing the reelection of Abraham Lincoln.

[14] During the 1864 presidential election, the "Unionist" label was adopted by the Republican Party to show unity with "War Democrats" who opposed the Confederacy.

[15] On February 8, 1864, the House Committee of Elections, led by Henry L. Dawes, presented a report and two resolutions declaring that neither McKenzie nor Kitchen were entitled to a seat.

[16] Dawes discredited McKenzie's claims regarding the legitimacy of the Berkeley County election and irregularities in the reporting process.

[18] Dawes countered this report with statements Kitchen had given regarding entire counties that had been under rebel control and did not hold elections.