 In 1996, Johns won Kentucky's 32nd House District.She received endorsements that described her as fiscally conservative and socially moderate.During her term, Johns began caucusing with other female legislators (including Joni Jenkins, Ruth Ann Palumbo, Eleanor Jordan, Mary Lou Marzian, Kathy Stein, and more) to track legislation in their individual fields of expertise and work together to affect legislation more easily than they could have done alone.