Becoming involved in Democratic Party politics, Burns served as a former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Emil Jones, the Illinois Senate President.

[4] In 2008 Burns challenged incumbent State Representative Elga Jeffries, and defeated her in the Democratic Primary on "Super Tuesday.

Burns also sponsored the first green jobs program in the United States which was specifically targeted to low-income urban areas.

[6] While alderman, Burns moonlighted for a public affairs consulting firm founded by one of President Barack Obama's top advisers.

Then in February 2016, Burns announced his departure from the Chicago City Council to take join Airbnb as "director, Midwest policy and senior adviser", starting March 1, 2016.