Larrazolo left with the bishop because he intended to study theology to become a priest and because his family had fallen into bankruptcy and could not support his schooling.

He considered entering the priesthood right after his graduation but secured a teaching position instead; he later also taught in El Paso County, Texas.

He practiced law in that town and became involved in Democratic politics, focusing on civil rights for the Mexicans and Hispanos who then comprised two thirds of New Mexico's population.

Larrazolo had difficulty finding success as a Democrat in New Mexico because most Hispanics in that state identified as Republicans at the time.

[3] In 1910, Larrazolo attacked the machine politics in New Mexico that he felt were exploiting Hispanic voters across the state.

He feared New Mexico was close to becoming like the South where Jim Crow laws stripped African Americans of their rights.

In a speech, he said "you [Hispanics].. have allowed yourselves to be controlled by other men but you will be controlled by bosses only as long as you permit the yoke to rest on you.... Every native citizen must unite in supporting this constitution because it secures to you people of New Mexico your rights—every one of them; the rights also of your children and in such a manner that they can never be taken away... if you want to acquire your freedom and transmit this sacred heritage in the land hallowed by the blood of your forefathers who fought to protect it...Do not wait until you are put in the position of Arizona which in two years will be able to disfranchise every Spanish speaking citizen.

Even though many New Mexico politicians resented him, Larrazolo still managed to gain a lot of political credibility, especially amongst Hispanic voters.

His Democratic opponent, Félix García, claimed that Larrazolo's birth in Chihuahua precluded him from understanding the concerns of "native New Mexicans."

Larrazolo's narrow victory, however, seemed to quiet most of the debate about whether he could authentically advocate on behalf of the Hispanic population.

[9] He was now very old and suffered with many illnesses and so he attended only one session of Congress and introduced one legislative action, calling for the establishment of an industrial school in New Mexico for the Spanish-speaking youth to promote equal opportunity.