In 2012, Beatty ran in the newly redrawn Ohio's 3rd congressional district, based in Columbus, and won the Democratic primary, defeating former U.S. representative Mary Jo Kilroy.

She served on the Columbus American Heart Association Board, Ohio Democratic Committee, Women's Fund, NAACP, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

[6] In 1999, longtime state representative Otto Beatty Jr. of Ohio's 21st House district decided to resign early to begin an opportunity in the private sector.

[citation needed] After Chris Redfern left to become chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Beatty was named minority leader.

[12] On March 6, 2012, Beatty defeated former congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy, Columbus city councilwoman Priscilla Tyson, and state representative Ted Celeste 38%–35%-15%-12% to win the Ohio 3rd congressional district Democratic primary.

[13] Starting in late 2019 and into early 2020, Beatty was campaigning for her fifth term as the representative of Ohio's 3rd congressional district.

Arguing at the time in favor of demolition and redevelopment, Otto Beatty noted he did not take part in the final vote.

[18] On April 28, 2020, Beatty won the Democratic primary, defeating challenger Morgan Harper, a self-described progressive.

[16] In 2020, she noted she had "helped to secure" local funding for the revitalization of parts of Dayton and research at Ohio State.

[16] On June 21, 2013, the National Journal published an article, "Nearly One in Five Members of Congress Gets Paid Twice", that reported that Beatty's state pension of $253,323 is the highest, and, combined with her congressional salary, was greater than President Obama's total government compensation.

[23][24][25] On July 15, 2021, Beatty was one of nine protesters the United States Capitol Police arrested for illegally demonstrating in the Hart Senate Office Building.

After multiple warnings from the police, Beatty was arrested for violating a Washington, D.C. law against "crowding, obstructing, or incommoding".