On April 25, 1972, Conover was elected as a Republican to the Ninety-second Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative James G. Fulton.[2] He defeated future Congressman Doug Walgren in the special election for the 27th district consisting of the suburbs south of Pittsburgh.[3] However, on the same day, he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in the Republican primary for the 22nd district being defeated by James R. Montgomery. The state had undergone its decennial redistricting and his home was placed into a district consisting of the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania.[3] He resumed business interests in Pittsburgh following the expiration of his term. Conover died on October 7, 2022.[4]