Abner Nash began his career in public service by being admitted to the bar in Virginia and serving in the House of Burgesses. He played a pivotal role in the revolutionary movement, representing New Bern in the rebel provincial congress and contributing to the drafting of North Carolina's new constitution. Nash's leadership extended to the North Carolina House of Commons, where he served as the first Speaker, and later as a member of the North Carolina State Senate. He was elected governor of North Carolina but resigned due to legislative conflicts. Nash concluded his career as a delegate to the Continental Congress until his death.

Abner Nash's political career reveals a figure who adeptly navigated early American governance with a blend of steadfast revolutionary support and an agile approach to legislative collaboration. His role in drafting North Carolina's constitution and serving as the first Speaker of the House of Commons indicates a foundational commitment to structuring new governance. However, his resignation as governor due to legislative conflicts suggests a tension between executive authority and legislative oversight. Nash's later service in the Continental Congress, until his death, hints at a continued dedication to broader national interests, despite his earlier resignation from a state post. His family legacy, including a son who became a prominent jurist and a descendant who achieved fame as a poet, further underscores a multi-generational influence in legal and intellectual circles.