MacBeth, then known as Nancy Betkowski, first entered electoral politics as an Alberta Progressive Conservative Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the riding of Edmonton-Glenora from 1986 to 1993 in the government of Don Getty.
Regarded by the membership as a Red Tory, Betkowski became the preferred candidate of the party establishment.
However, Klein's populist appeal won him the leadership, and Betkowski did not stand as a candidate in the 1993 election.
She then returned to politics in 1998, running for the leadership of the Alberta Liberals after the resignation of Grant Mitchell.
Elected to be the MLA for Edmonton-McClung, MacBeth tried to capitalize on discontent with Klein's government in some Alberta communities by reaching out to disaffected Red Tories, but proved unable to connect with voters.