On March 4, 2016, she announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate and won the primary on June 7.

With her interest in economic development she was prompted to earn a real estate broker's license and set up a small business specializing in the selling and appraising of farms.

She and her husband John have owned a cow-calf farm in Monroe County for thirty-five years.

She has been dedicated to community service, serving on the Albia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as a 4-H leader, a member of PEO, an honorary FFA Chapter Farmer and a member of the Iowa State Fair Board.

[3] In 2011 Judge's son Joe, a high school U.S. history & government teacher also in Albia,[4] announced his intent to be the second generation of the family to serve in Iowa government by running for the Iowa House of Representatives in the 80th district in 2012.

Other committees she served on were the Senate Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Appropriations, Small Business and Economic Development, and Human Services.

[7] In 2015, Judge was appointed the co-chair of a new bipartisan PAC, whose sole purpose is to make candidates visiting Iowa aware of the need for the Renewable Fuel Standard.