Joly first ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a United Farmers candidate in the 1921 general election.

He defeated incumbent Prosper-Edmond Lessard in the electoral district of St. Paul to pick up the seat for his party.

[3] Joly was defeated in the 1930 general election by Liberal candidate Joseph Dechene by just 18 votes .

[4] He ran again in the 1935 general election and was defeated by Social Credit candidate Joseph Beaudry.

[5] Joly ran once again in the new electoral district of Bonnyville in the 1952 general election, this time as a Social Credit candidate.