dʒˈoʊnz bɪɡˈæn hɪz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti θɹˈiː, wˌɛn hiː wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðɪ ˌɪlənˈɔɪ hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz.
Jones began his elected career in 1973, when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives.