James Douglas served in municipal and federal governments in a political career lasting 40 years.
He entered federal politics in 1909 in a by-election that followed the death of Wilbert McIntyre, the recently elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Strathcona.
Douglas was one of many MPs to leave Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal caucus and join this new grand-alliance "Union" government.
Towards the end of this term, he again made a foray into federal politics, running in the 1925 election as a Conservative in Edmonton West.
During this time, he was also appointed by the Alberta government to the Royal Commission on the Condition of the Halfbreed Population of the Province of Alberta (Ewing Commission) along with members Albert Ewing and Dr. Edward A. Brathwaite to look at issues affecting the Métis population including land claims, hunting rights and treaty status.
[2][3] Douglas returned to Edmonton to run for mayor in the 1936 election, in which he finished a close second to Joseph Clarke in a five-person race.
He left politics once again after this defeat, but returned to the position of alderman in the 1941 election, finishing second of fourteen candidates.