Pullen spent eight terms in the Illinois General Assembly representing a district in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

She then worked as a staffer for State Representative Robert Juckett while in college and eventually ran to replace him following his death.

[7] Pullen also served on the board of the American Legislative Exchange Council focusing mainly on education issues.

[8] She opposed ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and worked alongside other conservative leaders like Phyllis Schlafly and Rev.

[11][2] Pullen passed numerous bills related to HIV/AIDS during her tenure including one that required mandatory AIDS testing for marriage-license applicants in Illinois.

Following the United States Supreme Court's ruling upholding a Missouri abortion statute in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, Pullen proposed similar laws in Illinois.

The race gained national attention for its focus on abortion and groups on both sides of the debate contributed heavily to the candidates.