Fairbanks akanga ari mumwe wevakatanga Republican Party, uye nhume kubva kuVermont kuRepublican National Convention yokutanga
muna 1856. Akanga ari Gavhuna wechi26 weVermont kubva muna 1860 kusvika muna 1861. Mukati mehurumende yake yechipiri akapa rubatsiro runokosha mukugadzira uye kutumira mauto mumazuva okutanga eHondo yeVanhu veAmerica.