[3]: 41 Connell first rose to local political prominence in 1884 when he began giving speeches in support of presidential candidate Grover Cleveland.

[4] Between his campaigns, Connell served as police commissioner of Poughkeepsie for three years[3]: 42  beginning in 1892, Dutchess County's inheritance tax appraiser from 1907 to 1909 and delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1900 and 1904.

"[4] Connell defeated the incumbent, Republican Hamilton Fish II, by 517 votes to win election to the 62nd United States Congress.

[3]: 42 In his brief time in Congress, Connell collaborated with Representative Isaac R. Sherwood in championing a successful Civil War veterans' pension bill.

[3]: 43 Connell spent the night of October 29, 1912 making speeches in Putnam County[3]: 41  and returned home to Poughkeepsie around 2:00 a.m.[3]: 39  When he did not get out of bed the following morning for an 8:00 a.m. car which was hired to bring him to meet constituents in Middletown, his wife found him unresponsive.