He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and commenced practice in Pensacola, Florida.

Loftin became a member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Crime in 1934 and president of the American Bar Association in 1934.

He became a general counsel for the Florida East Coast Railway between 1931-1941 and for a variety of other transportation-related businesses.

On May 26, 1936, he was appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Park Trammell and served from May 26 to November 3, 1936, when a successor was elected.

He resumed the practice of law in Jacksonville, Fla., until his death in Highlands, North Carolina.