Lourey was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1996, again defeating a veteran incumbent, later becoming chair of the Senate Health and Family Security Committee and earning a reputation as an expert on health care.

Her son Tony held her former seat until 2018, after which he was appointed to Governor Tim Walz's cabinet.

She withdrew from the endorsement process after the third ballot after falling behind Kelley, with Hatch's vote total increasing.

Lourey's plan had several cost containment measures, including a requirement that any HMOs, private health insurers or Third Party Administrators receiving contracts to administer state-funded health plans spend no more than 5% on administrative expenses.

Lourey is the currently the owner of Nemadji Research Corporation, which specializes in "cost recovery and revenue maximization for health care providers.