In 1989 Clausing had been teaching her children how to swim at the local lake when she noticed the abnormal level of algae in the water, caused by Phosphorus pollution.
As a response, she began engaging in activism to clean up the lake, gathering 3,500 signatures to petition the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reform various regulations surrounding pollution.
Millions of dollars were being spent by outside groups in races like hers, as control of the state senate would play a role in which party would direct the redistricting process in Wisconsin for the next decade.
[3] According to Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Clausing's race had become the "worst example of runaway spending in the 2000 election..."[4] Despite the high spending in support of her candidacy, and her own fundraising advantage over her Republican opponent, Clausing went down in defeat in the general election to former state representative Sheila Harsdorf with 47% of the vote.
[5] Following her defeat, Clausing was selected by the Democratic Party to be an elector for the Al Gore-Joe Lieberman ticket in the 2000 United States presidential election.