After graduating from college, Jones joined the
United States Air Force, becoming an intelligence officer. She was later deployed to
Iraq with the
18th Air Support Operations Group, supporting
close air support operations. After three years of
active duty and reaching the rank of
captain, Jones returned to Texas in 2006, working for a consulting company while caring for her mother, who had
colon cancer (from which she eventually recovered). She then returned to working as an intelligence analyst for
United States Africa Command in Germany. living in the house where she grew up.
Congressional campaigns 2018 at a campaign event in 2018. In 2017, Jones was the first Democrat to announce a challenge
Hillary Clinton won the district by three points in the
2016 United States presidential election and neither party had controlled the swing district for more than two consecutive terms since 2007. Jones finished first in the March 6, 2018, Democratic primary, earning 41 percent of the vote in a field of five. A
runoff election was held on May 22, which Jones won. She faced Hurd in the November 6 general election, in what was called the most competitive congressional race in the state. As of June 30, Jones had raised $2.2 million while Hurd had raised $2.4 million in addition to the $1.5 million with which he entered the race. With four months remaining, Jones was approaching the district's record for election fundraising by a Democrat ($2.7 million). Jones was endorsed by
EMILY's List, the
Asian American Action Fund, the
Equality PAC, and military veterans. A March 2018
Teen Vogue article noted that if elected, Jones would be "the first openly lesbian woman of color from Texas elected to Congress, as well as the first Iraq War veteran to represent Texas in Congress. She'd also be the first woman to represent Texas's 23rd Congressional district." Jones said she believed health care reform would play a big role in the election. She and Hurd both broke fundraising records. Jones lost to Hurd by 1,150 votes and conceded on November 19.
2020 In May 2019, Jones launched a second campaign for Texas's 23rd congressional district.
Under Secretary of the Air Force at
Joint Base San Antonio in 2021. Jones was
confirmed as President Biden's Under Secretary of the Air Force by the
Senate on July 22, 2021. She was the sixth woman to hold that title, She resigned as under secretary in February 2023, effective March 6.
Find Out PAC Jones leads Find Out PAC, a
political action committee seeking to defeat
Texas Supreme Court justices
Jimmy Blacklock,
Jane Bland and
John Devine, who were running for re-election in the
2024 Texas judicial elections, because of their decision in
Cox v. Texas. All three justices were re-elected to 6-year terms. Blacklock was appointed
Chief justice following his victory. ==Mayor of San Antonio==