Before first running for office in 2006, Wilmer was appointed to chair the Montana Human Rights Commission by Governor Schweitzer in 2005.
She got a master's degree in political science, specializing in international relations, from the University of Maryland in 1985 and a PhD in 1990.
In 2005, Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer appointed her to become Chair the Montana Human Rights Commission, where she served for one year.
Wilmer ran for the open House seat and won the June Democratic primary with 72% of the vote.
In February 2011, Wilmer was the first candidate from either party to announce her candidacy[11] for Montana's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
[12] Wilmer was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus[13][failed verification][dubious – discuss] She finished second of 6 candidates in the Democratic primary, with 14,836 votes (18.4%).