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In 1854, Harlan was elected city attorney of [[Frankfort, Kentucky]], and he was re-elected to the position in 1856.<ref name="ANB"/> When the Whig Party was dissolved around this time, Harlan became a member of the [[Know nothing party|Know Nothing Party]].<ref name="ANB"/> Harlan gave several speeches as a Know Nothing member that were anti-immigrant in nature "that would later haunt him."<ref name="ANB"/> In 1858, Harlan was elected as county judge of Franklin County, Kentucky as a Know Nothing.<ref name="ANB"/> Harlan later switched party affiliation to the Opposition Party, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1859.<ref name="ANB"/>

In 1854, Harlan was elected city attorney of [[Frankfort, Kentucky]], and he was re-elected to the position in 1856.<ref name="ANB"/> When the Whig Party was dissolved around this time, Harlan became a member of the [[Know nothing party|Know Nothing Party]].<ref name="ANB"/> Harlan gave several speeches as a Know Nothing member that were anti-immigrant in nature "that would later haunt him."<ref name="ANB"/> In 1858, Harlan was elected as county judge of Franklin County, Kentucky as a Know Nothing.<ref name="ANB"/> Harlan later switched party affiliation to the Opposition Party, and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1859.<ref name="ANB"/>

In 1860, Harlan switched parties again to the Constitutional Union Party and supported it's candidate, [[John Bell]], for president.<ref name="ANB"/> He supported the party because it supported the Union as opposed to succession but opposed abolitionism.<ref name="ANB"/> During the [[Civil War]], Harlan was a strong supporter of remaining in the Union, and in September 1861, he "formed the Tenth Kentucky Volunteers, serving as the unit's colonel and seeing action in both his home state and [[Tennessee]]."<ref name="ANB"/> In February of 1863, president [[Abraham Lincoln]]"recommended to Congress that Harlan be promoted to brigadier general," however, due to the recent death of his father, Harlan declined the nomination.<ref name="ANB"/>

In 1860, Harlan switched parties again to the Constitutional Union Party and supported it's candidate, [[John Bell]], for president.<ref name="ANB"/> He supported the party because it supported the Union as opposed to succession but opposed abolitionism.<ref name="ANB"/> During the [[Civil War]], Harlan was a strong supporter of remaining in the Union, and in September 1861, he "formed the Tenth Kentucky Volunteers, serving as the unit's colonel and seeing action in both his home state and [[Tennessee]]."<ref name="ANB"/> In February of 1863, president [[Abraham Lincoln]]"recommended to Congress that Harlan be promoted to brigadier general," however, due to the recent death of his father, Harlan declined the nomination and resigned from the army.<ref name="ANB"/>

He gave many recorded racist and states' rights speeches that became an embarrassment after the [[Civil War]], in which he served on the [[Union]].

He gave many recorded racist and states' rights speeches that became an embarrassment after the [[Civil War]], in which he served on the [[Union]].