[2] Caperton served a single term in the West Virginia House of Delegates before retiring to help her husband's campaign for governor.

After the divorce was finalized, she ran for West Virginia State Treasurer in 1990 but was defeated in the primary.

[5] In 1984, she served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Charleston and participated in a cultural exchange program where she taught English in China for a semester.

She had considered a bid for the governorship but passed on it, fearing a woman would be unable to defeat incumbent Arch Moore.

[10] On August 17, 1989, Caperton sued her husband for $12 million, claiming she had been forced to sell market shares below value for political reasons.

[15] Despite reportedly leaving events when he knew his ex-wife was present, Governor Caperton made no efforts to stifle her campaign.

[18] Her opponents criticized her candidacy and charged her election would generate negative publicity for the state, particularly after the scandal surrounding previous Treasurer A. James Manchin.

[20] After losing the treasurer's race, Caperton moved to France, where she operated a small hotel in Saint-Remy.