Legris ran as a candidate of Honoré Mercier's Parti National in 1886 and lost.

However, the election was eventually declared void and a by-election was called to settle the matter.

Legris ended up winning the 1888 by-election and became MLA for the provincial district of Maskinongé.

The same year, Catholic Bishop Louis-François Richer Laflèche used his influence to help local candidates of the Conservative Party being elected.

[1] In 1891, Legris was elected as a Liberal candidate to the House of Commons, representing the district of Maskinongé.