A resident of the city of Crete in the southeastern part of the state, she served a single term in the Nebraska Legislature, from 2015 to 2019.

Her mother, Gwen Schwab (née Junker) sat on the Fairbury School Board.

Her father, Ron Schwab, was also the city's mayor and, in 2006, ran unsuccessfully against Russ Karpisek for the 32nd District seat in the Nebraska Legislature.

Russ attended medical school in Omaha; then, after his residency, had a five-year commitment to the U.S. Navy, during which the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and then to North Carolina.

[7][9][11][12] Crete and Fairbury both lay within the 32nd Legislative District, encompassing Fillmore, Jefferson, Saline, Thayer, and the southwestern corner of Lancaster counties.

[8] Hardenburger supported the use of human embryonic stem cells in research, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or danger to maternal health;[8] Ebke described herself as "unequivocally...

[8] The Democratic party hoped for a higher turnout of sympathetic voters in the general election, when a measure to increase the state's minimum wage was on the ballot;[21] in the District 32 race, Hardenburger favored an increase[8] while Ebke opposed it.

[23] The Nebraska Bankers State PAC contributed $4,000 to Ebke's campaign and $2,200 to Hardenburger's.

Ebke was one of thirteen legislators who signed a letter criticizing Ricketts for conduct that they described as placing partisanship ahead of principle.

[27][28] In 2017, Al Riskowski, a registered Republican and the former director of the conservative organization Nebraska Family Alliance announced that he had secured Ricketts's endorsement in a bid for the 32nd District seat in 2018.