john adams jr.'s first campaign for the state legislature was in 1932 when he ran in the tenth district against democrat edward j dugan (adams received 1,402 votes against dugan's 2,594 in a democratic landslide). in 1934 he won the election in the ninth district election against incumbent democrat johnny owen and policeman dan phillips (1,308 votes to 1,207 and 1,183). he replaced democrat johnny owen who was first elected in 1933. owen's republican predecessor in the ninth was republican john andrew singleton, a black dentist with whom adams had previous political involvement, forming the consolidated negro political organization in march 1933. the organization also included on its executive council john o. wood, andrew stuart, and harry anderson.