A Democrat, Cavanaugh has served on the Manchester Board of Mayor Aldermen for Ward 1 since 2015.
[1][2] From 2017 until 2022, he represented the 16th district in the New Hampshire Senate after winning a special election to succeed deceased fellow Democrat Scott McGilvray.
He works as assistant business manager for IBEW Local 2320, a union representing electrical workers and other professions.
[4][5] On April 24, 2023, Cavanaugh announced his bid for Manchester mayor.
[2][6] Cavanaugh and Republican candidate Jay Ruais advanced to the general election,[7] but on November 7, 2023, Ruais defeated Cavanaugh to become the next mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire.