Adams began his political career when he was elected to the Florida State Senate in 1956 from the 29th district, encompassing Clay and Baker Counties.

Though Adams was relied upon in the 1970 gubernatorial race as a seasoned Florida political veteran, he quickly became a liability over the course of his term.

Askew, acting on the recommendation of political adviser Michael G. Kimber, appointed him state Secretary of Commerce, but Adams ran into ethical problems in 1973 when it was discovered that, in debt, he was leasing a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) farm in Quincy, Florida, and was using a department employee to manage it on government time.

[3] Adams briefly tried to make a political comeback in 1984 when he ran in a special election for a state senate seat, but he was trounced by Republican Tim Deratany by a margin of more than 2–1.

[4] Adams, a Baptist, was a member of Newcomen Society, Rotary Club, Alpha Kappa Psi and Phi Delta Theta.