[2] The pair narrowly lost the general election to the incumbent Democratic ticket of Phil Murphy and Sheila Oliver.

[2] Allen began her broadcast news career in 1970 with WJJZ, an AM radio station based in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

[2] In 1976, Allen returned home to cover New Jersey politics for KYW-TV, the then-NBC (now CBS) affiliate in Philadelphia.

[7] Allen first sought elective office in the 1970s when she ran for the Board of Education of the Moorestown Township Public Schools.

[17][18][19] In 2011, Allen defeated a primary challenge from Carol Lokan-Moore with 90% of the vote and won the general election against Gail Cook with 57%.

During her final year in office, Allen worked to override Governor Chris Christie's veto of an equal pay law.

The party leadership coalesced behind Doug Forrester, a multimillionaire businessman who pledged to personally fund his campaign.

[2] She faced criticism from fellow Republicans for her Quaker faith and pacifism, which conflicted with the national mood following the September 11 attacks.

[23] She carried every county in South Jersey except for Gloucester, home of third-place finisher State Senator John J. Matheussen, and Ocean.

[2] Forrester lost the general election to Frank Lautenberg, who entered the race after Torricelli withdrew amid ethics concerns and poor polling.

[25] In 2009, Allen was a leading candidate to join Chris Christie's ticket as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

[2] Republican nominee for Governor Jack Ciattarelli announced his selection of Allen as his running mate on August 4, 2021.

[citation needed] In addition to her hang gliding and beauty pageant career, Allen is a judoka, national swimming champion, pilot, and sharpshooter.