He ran for United States House of Representatives in 1880, an election cycle in which the GOP convention was divided over his party nomination.

However, the publicity of the factionalism dissolved during the general election campaign, where Hubbs defeated Democratic white supremacist William H. Kitchin by fifteen percentage points.

[2] During the 47th congressional session (1881–83), Hubbs was dubbed as being one of four "carpetbaggers," and worked quietly on patronage for political supporters, in addition to pursuing matters important to his district.

[1] In early January 1883, Hubbs was one of only seven House Republicans to vote against the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act,[3] legislation sponsored by Ohio Jim Crow Democrat George H. Pendleton to replace the spoils system (which Radical Republicans effectively used in the post-Civil War years to ensure civil rights for blacks) with a bloated bureaucracy controlled by Democrats to discriminate against blacks.

[4] Under immense political pressure following the assassination of President James A. Garfield, the vast majority of Stalwarts which had opposed civil service reform ultimately voted for the Pendleton Act.