Her parents were very involved with politics and Peterson began working on campaigns at the age of twelve.

After high school, Peterson moved to Tulsa, OK to attend Oral Roberts University.

While her husband attended medical school at the University of Minnesota, Peterson worked for a TV station in the Twin Cities area.

Peterson and her family eventually moved back to Tulsa, where she volunteered on Don Nickles' campaign in 1992.

When Representative Hopper Smith vacated his seat to serve in Afghanistan in 2003, Peterson ran, winning 68% of the vote against two male opponents.