Ford was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 5th congressional district to the 50th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1889. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1888, being defeated by Charles E. Belknap, and commenced the practice of law at Grand Rapids in 1889. He was chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1890. In November 1890, he was elected to the 52nd Congress and served from March 4, 1891, until his death seven weeks later in Grand Rapids. He is interred there in Oak Hill Cemetery.
