In Wyndham, Connor went into partnership with a schoolmate from Ireland, Denis Doherty, who eventually also entered parliament.

[1] In 1893, Connor was elected to parliament in a by-election for the seat of East Kimberley, caused by the death of the sitting member, William Baker.

The Labor government fell after just over a year, and Connor was defeated in his seat at the 1905 state election by Arthur Male.

[2] He re-entered parliament in June 1906, winning election to the Legislative Council's North Province, and was re-elected to a second six-year term in 1912.

It was thought that his wife (the only witness) had startled him by opening the office door, and the death was found to be purely accidental.