She won the vacant seat through a special election after the death of her husband and former senator Keith Leftwich.

She was a key figure in the 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation for her role in a bribery scheme in which she was accused of agreeing to not run for re-election in 2010 in exchange for a state job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME).

Leftwich's interest in politics began in high school with various mentors encouraging her passion.

Leftwich was a key figure in the 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigation.

[1][5] Aside from her service in the Oklahoma Legislature, Leftwich spent her time serving in a number of various organizations, including:[6] Leftwich and her late husband have two sons, Kevin and Kurt.