She graduated from Lowell High School and from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications.

Prior to elected office, Lyons was Director of Public Policy & Community Outreach for the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors.

During her tenure, she chaired the House standing committees on education and on ethics and elections, and authored 32 Public Acts[4] that were signed into law.

[10] On August 15, 2018, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced[11] Lyons as his running mate for his gubernatorial campaign.

The pair lost the general election on November 6, 2018 to the Democratic ticket of Gretchen Whitmer and Garlin Gilchrist.