In 1964, Lyons was elected to the Illinois Senate from the 10th district defeating Republican candidate Elroy C. Sandquist Jr.[1][3] He was chosen the best new member of the Illinois Senate in 1965 and selected by Rutgers University as an outstanding young legislator in 1966. Served as chairman of the Illinois Constitution Study Commission and Secretary of the Governor's Revenue Study Committee. Lyons lost re-election in 1966, in part for his support for a statewide fair housing laws, similar to what would become Titles VIII through IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.[4]
In 1968, Lyons was elected to the position of Democratic Committeeman for the 45th ward,[6] and from 1990 until his death he served as Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party from 1990 to 2007 and as 45th Ward Democratic Committeeman for many years. President Bill Clinton appointed Lyons to the American Battle Monuments Commission. He died in January 2007.[7] He was succeeded as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party by Joe Berrios.[8]