Earlier in his career, Hallanan edited the Huntington Herald-Dispatch newspaper[3] and served as West Virginia's state Tax Commissioner.[4] He was elected to one term in the West Virginia Senate in 1926. After being defeated for re-election to the Senate, Hallanan was elected to serve as West Virginia's Republican National Committeeman in 1928.[5] He remained an RNC member until his death in Charleston on December 28, 1962.[6] He was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery.[7]