In the 1994 general election, Jones won election to the 107th district.[1] The district included all or parts of Jefferson, Wabash, Edwards, White, Lawrence, and Hamilton counties.[2]
In the 2002 general election, Jones defeated Democratic incumbent William L. O'Daniel.[3] In 2012, O. Jones' 54th district was redrawn and, in places, combined with Republican State Senator Kyle McCarter's 51st district to create the new 54th district. John. O. Jones proclaimed his retirement after failing to receive the 2,000 signatures needed for the Republican primary ballot. After considering running as an independent candidate, he told the Centralia Sentinel that he would instead retire from the state Senate, stating he felt that was best for the party and for the people.
Jones was lead sponsor of landmark senior citizen prescription assistance legislation that expanded the Circuit Breaker program by increasing the income eligibility requirements; member of Woodlands Task Force which protected landowners from skyrocketing property taxes on vacant woodland, grassland and wetlands; sponsored education reform bill creating a base level funding for each student; sponsored comprehensive legislation to revitalize the coal industry in Illinois and he has been a strong advocate for township government, school construction funding and ethanol promotion.
During his time in the Senate, he was assigned to the following committees: Committees on Licensed Activities (Minority Spokesperson); Agriculture and Conservation; Commerce and Economic Development; Judiciary Criminal Law; State Government and Veterans Affairs
Friend of 4-H - Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers, Illinois Agriculture Association Activator - Friend of Agriculture Award, Friend of the Family Award, CARES Advisory Council - Carpe Diem Award, Guardian of Small Business Award, Illinois HomeCare Council - Legislator of the Year, Illinois Firefighters Association – Legislator of the Year, Township Officials of Illinois – Legislator of the Year, Township Officials of Effingham County – Legislator of the Year, Illinois Civil Justice League’s - Friend of Fairness.