[5] In 2006, Kleeb, then a ranch-hand at the McGinn Ranch in Custer County,[6] was the Democratic candidate for Nebraska's 3rd congressional district seat.

Just before the election, polls showed Kleeb even with or ahead of his Republican opponent, state senator Adrian Smith, in a congressional district the GOP had held for 46 years.

[9][10] President George W. Bush also made an appearance in the district two days before the election to campaign for Smith — a sign that the national party was very concerned about its chances in what had long been presumed to be a very safe Republican seat.

Besides Bush's 11th-hour visit, Smith likely rode the coattails of Governor Dave Heineman, who won many of the counties in this district by 80 percent or more in his bid for a full term.

[12] In May 2008, Kleeb won the Democratic primary election for the open Nebraska U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel, with nearly 70 percent of the vote in a four-candidate race.

[14] On November 4, 2008, Kleeb lost to former Republican Governor of Nebraska Mike Johanns in the general election.

[18] In 2011, she was a major figure in getting the Keystone XL pipeline's proposed path changed so that it did not go across Nebraska's Sandhills and works with farmers and ranchers to fight eminent domain abuse.