She became interested in politics as a teenager, opposing the Hartz IV reforms and supporting women's equality and social welfare.

In university, she spent a semester abroad in Cairo in the midst of the Arab Spring and witnessed the Egyptian revolution, which furthered her interest in politics.

[5] At the federal Left congress in June 2022, Reichinnek ran unsuccessfully for the party co-leadership, winning 199 votes (35.8%) to incumbent Janine Wissler's 319 (57.5%).

[6] In February 2024, Reichinnek was elected co-leader of the Left's reorganised Bundestag group alongside Sören Pellmann, defeating Clara Bünger 14 votes to 13.

[7] She is one of two leading candidates for The Left in the 2025 German federal election, along with Jan van Aken.