She was reelected in 2002 as a Republican but was defeated in her attempt for a third term in 2006 after switching to the Democratic Party.
Witek began her career as a Republican, winning election to the nonpartisan unicameral Nebraska Legislature in November 1992 from District 31 in southwestern Omaha.
Witek was reelected to the Legislature in 1996 but resigned from her District 31 seat upon her swearing-in as the first woman Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts in January 1999.
After running as the Lieutenant Governor candidate with unsuccessful Governor candidate Tom Osborne, Republican Witek decided to switch parties in August 2006, citing concerns about a Republican Party that, in her own words, "...was only looking at controlling all the offices instead of looking at resolving the problems challenging this state.
"[2] Witek had initially decided to forgo reelection in 2006, but after she switched parties, the Nebraska Democratic Party nominated her as their candidate for Auditor at their State Convention in Grand Island, Nebraska.