A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 41 in the north-central Twin Cities metropolitan area.

[1][2] Laine has worked as a reserve teacher for the Minneapolis Public School System, and as a financial director for the Novalis Institute in Columbia Heights.

She is a former leader of the Parent Communication Network, and a member of the Interfaith Alliance.

[2][3] Laine was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2006, opting to run after three-term Rep. Barb Goodwin decided not to seek re-election,[4] and was re-elected in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Laine's 2016 campaign website listed her religion as Unitarian Universalism.