During World War II, he served in the U.S. Embassy in Chile. Chávez then returned to New Mexico and was elected to the New Mexico Senate in 1948. He served until 1950, after which he was selected to serve as lieutenant governor of New Mexico. In 1954, Chávez was again elected to the New Mexico Senate, serving until 1974. Chávez was a candidate in the 1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election, placing second in Democratic primary. From 1979 until his death in 1991, he served as a district court judge.[2] Chávez also owned a private legal practice, which is still operated by his sons.[3][4]
After his death, Chávez's papers were donated to the University of New Mexico–Valencia Campus in Los Lunas, New Mexico.[5][6]
