During the mid to late 1970s, she worked on the first campaign for the United States Senate of fellow Republican John Heinz.
[13][14][15][16] In 1990, she became the chair of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, a position she held until 1996, when she resigned for health reasons.
She was subsequently chosen as one of two delegates from Pennsylvania to serve on the Republican National Committee.
[17][18][19][20] During the 1994 gubernatorial primary season, she was credited with maintaining broad Republican Party support for Tom Ridge.
[24][25][26] Diagnosed with cancer in 1988,[27] Anstine battled the disease for nine years before she died at her home in Port Royal, Juniata County on May 23, 1997.