Changes

https://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2020.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Bossier Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 25, 2019}}</ref> In 1952, Jones narrowly lost a primary election to the state Senate to [[John J. Doles, Sr.]], a banker from Plain Dealing in northern Bossier Parish whom Jones described as "a friend."<ref>"44 Candidates Qualified," ''Minden Herald,'' October 15, 1955, p. 1.</ref>​

https://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2020.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (Bossier Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=September 25, 2019}}</ref> In 1952, Jones narrowly lost a primary election to the state Senate to [[John J. Doles, Sr.]], a banker from Plain Dealing in northern Bossier Parish whom Jones described as "a friend."<ref>"44 Candidates Qualified," ''Minden Herald,'' October 15, 1955, p. 1.</ref>​

On February 21, 1956, Jones rebounded to defeat businessman and former educator [[Harold Montgomery]] of Doyline in south Webster Parish in the Democratic [[primary]] runoff election for the Bossier/Webster Senate seat vacated by Doles after a single term. A third candidate, Minden businessman and educator Lloyd C. Starr (1899–1982), was eliminated in the first primary. Jones claimed, as having been the House assistant sergeant-at-arms, that he knew personally nearly all the legislators and would hence be ready from the first day to represent the northwest Louisiana district. Jones polled 6,734 votes (50.7 percent) to Montgomery's 6,542 (49.3 percent), a margin of 192 votes.<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 17, 1956, p. 1.</ref> No [[Republican Party|Republicans]] sought the position. District 36 obtained its first Republican senator in 2007, when Robert Roy Adley of Benton, switched parties shortly after his election as a Democrat.

On February 21, 1956, Jones rebounded to defeat businessman and former educator [[Harold Montgomery]] of Doyline in south Webster Parish in the Democratic [[primary]] runoff election for the Bossier/Webster Senate seat vacated by Doles after a single term. A third candidate, Minden businessman and educator Lloyd C. Starr (1899–1982), was eliminated in the first primary. Jones claimed, as having been the House assistant sergeant-at-arms, that he knew personally nearly all the legislators and would hence be ready from the first day to represent the northwest Louisiana district. Jones polled 6,734 votes (50.7 percent) to Montgomery's 6,542 (49.3 percent), a margin of 192 votes.<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 17, 1956, p. 1.</ref> No [[Republican Party|Republicans]] sought the position. District 36 obtained its first Republican senator in 2007, when [[Robert Adley (Louisiana politician)|Robert Roy Adley]] of Benton, switched parties shortly after his election as a Democrat.

As senator, Jones served on the Joint Legislative Committee on [[Racial segregation|Segregation]], under chairman [[William Rainach]] of neighboring Claiborne Parish. Like Rainach, Jones opposed desegregation at the height of the [[civil rights]] movement. He was a favorite of [[organized labor]] and supported voting by eighteen-year-olds, an issue not much discussed at the time, some fifteen years before the ratification of the [[26th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]].<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 9, 1956.</ref> Unlike Rainach, Jones was noncommittal on the recurring issue of [[right-to-work]] legislation, having urged in 1958 a state constitutional amendment on the matter to gauge voter support. "It is a very controversial issue and ought to be decided by the people. We should get the [right-to-work] thing settled once and for all."<ref>"Legislators Ask Right-to-Work Vote," ''Minden Press,'' February 24, 1958, p. 1.</ref> Jones campaigned for reelection in 1959 by noting that he had obtained twenty-three road contracts for Bossier and Webster parishes in the administration of [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] during a period of three and one-half years.<ref>''Minden Press,'' August 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref>​

As senator, Jones served on the Joint Legislative Committee on [[Racial segregation|Segregation]], under chairman [[William Rainach]] of neighboring Claiborne Parish. Like Rainach, Jones opposed desegregation at the height of the [[civil rights]] movement. He was a favorite of [[organized labor]] and supported voting by eighteen-year-olds, an issue not much discussed at the time, some fifteen years before the ratification of the [[26th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]].<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 9, 1956.</ref> Unlike Rainach, Jones was noncommittal on the recurring issue of [[right-to-work]] legislation, having urged in 1958 a state constitutional amendment on the matter to gauge voter support. "It is a very controversial issue and ought to be decided by the people. We should get the [right-to-work] thing settled once and for all."<ref>"Legislators Ask Right-to-Work Vote," ''Minden Press,'' February 24, 1958, p. 1.</ref> Jones campaigned for reelection in 1959 by noting that he had obtained twenty-three road contracts for Bossier and Webster parishes in the administration of [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] during a period of three and one-half years.<ref>''Minden Press,'' August 17, 1959, p. 1.</ref>​