 In 1896, he attempted to return to his old Senate seat, running as a Republican; but lost to Democrat Michael Burke, with 4240 votes to Burke's 4945 and Populist Charles Williams' 170.By 1897, while he was still sergeant-at-arms (and Stanley Pettibone, "student", was a messenger on his staff), he had sold the "Reporter" and moved to Oconomowoc, where he and his sons Daniel and Stanley, operating as Pettibone & Pettibone, published the "Oconomowoc Republican", which had been the "Oconomowoc Democrat" until they purchased and renamed it.He retained his office until the Senate's 1903 session.