Editing Jim Edgar (section)

===Illinois House of Representatives===
[[File:Rep Jim Edgar.png|thumb|Rep. Edgar {{Circa}} 1977|223x223px]]
In 1974, Edgar ran unsuccessfully in the Republican nomination for state representative from the 53rd district, coming in third place.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=20 January 2023 |title=Jim Edgar |url=https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/library/heritage_project/home/chapters/maturity-and-leadership-the-1980s/jim-edgar/ |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=The Official Website for the Illinois Secretary of State}}</ref> After the campaign, Edgar worked as an insurance and cosmetics salesperson before briefly serving the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.<ref name=":2" />

He ran for the same seat again two years later in 1976 and won.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=809675 |title = Our Campaigns - IL State House 053 Race - Nov 02, 1976}}</ref> He was re-elected in 1978.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=187544 |title = Our Campaigns - IL State House 053 Race - Nov 07, 1978}}</ref>

While in the House, Edgar served on the Appropriations II, Human Resources, and Revenue committees as well as the Illinois Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/37561/rec/62 |title=Illinois Blue Book, 1977-1978 |date=August 1978 |publisher=State of Illinois |pages=66–67, 188}}</ref> Due to his moderate policy positions, Edgar was often considered a swing vote, especially on the Human Resources committee.<ref name=":7" />

In April 1979, shortly after winning re-election, Edgar resigned his state House seat to accept an appointment from Governor [[James R. Thompson|Jim Thompson]] to be the governor's legislative liaison.<ref name=":2" /> Though reluctant at first, Edgar accepted Thompson's offer with an unwritten promise that it would lead to Edgar getting a spot on a statewide ticket later on.<ref name=":7" />