[4] A member of the Young Republicans, Gaines attended the first Eisenhower inaugural in 1953 along with future state senator Charles Chew.

Because of the cumulative voting system then in force under the 1970 Illinois Constitution, in which the parties had agreed to each nominate no more than two candidates for each three-member district, a small number of Black Republicans were able to be elected from Chicago, such as Gaines and his successor Jesse Jackson.

As a freshman representative at the opening of the 79th General Assembly in January 1975, Gaines was thrust into the spotlight as the House had deadlocked on the choice of speaker.

In 1978 when it came to the floor, however, he and four other members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus voted "present", causing the ERA ratification bill to fail.

In the fall of 1979 Gaines split with the governor James R. Thompson on a number of high-profile votes, including sales tax relief and RTA funding.

[12] He also joined Black Democrats in speaking out against the governor's signing of legislation that eliminated civil and criminal penalties for discrimination.

"[16] In the 1980 election Gaines argued fiercely against the Cutback Amendment, which eliminated cumulative voting and instituted single-member districts when it took effect in 1982, writing that "once again white bigots want to reduce black power in the name of REFORM.