In 2010, when incumbent Democratic State Representative Keith Fitzgerald ran for a third term in the House, Pilon returned from political retirement to challenge him in the 69th District, which included a few precincts in southern Manatee County and northwestern Sarasota County.

He was opposed by Liz Alpert, the Democratic nominee and an attorney who had previously run for the state legislature fourteen years prior.

During the course of the campaign, "Alpert tried to tie Pilon to Governor Rick Scott and paint him as too conservative for the district.

While in the legislature, Pilon broke from his party to oppose a ban on abortion that was sought based on the sex or race of the child, noting, "I'm a very strong conservative Republican.

I believe in personal responsibility," but that the legislation unfairly burdened physicians and got into areas that "perhaps we shouldn't be delving in.