Randall was a member of the 1868 Republican State Convention and was made a member of the State Central Committee representing Concordia Parish along with John S. Harris.[2]
He was unanimously nominated to stand to fill the senate seat left by John S. Harris who had resigned to move on to serve as a United States Senator for Louisiana.[3]
Randall, a Republican,[4] was elected to serve in the Louisiana State Senate and was sworn in on September 15, 1868.[5]
Later the same week senator Blackman, a Democrat, called for John Randall to be removed and that the election be declared unconstitutional, null and void.[6]
He represented the district for the Concordia Parish and Avoyelles Parish.[1]
He served on the Committee on Enrolment and on the Committee on Unfinished Business.[7]
He died at his home May 8, 1869 of a "congestive chill" and is buried at his home in Vidalia, Louisiana.[7][8]
His death was noted on the second day of the 1870 session along with fellow senator Alexander R. François who had also died the same year.[7]
His obituary noted that he had been born enslaved and was an honest man who endeavoured to promote harmony between blacks and whites.[8]