 In 1888 Capehart was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.He was elected to his first term in Congress in 1890, and was re-elected in 1892, serving from 1891 to 1895 (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895; the 52nd and 53rd United States Congresses)

Capehart chose not to run for re-election in the 1894 contest.After returning to West Virginia, he worked as president of the Point Pleasant National Bank, beginning in 1901.