[11][12] During the primary, Yoder emphasized job creation, worker training, funding for health research, and investment in infrastructure and clean energy.

[13][14] She credited her success to a grassroots campaign, vowing to take on big money and special interests and be a voice for working families.

[15] Former Governor Howard Dean used his political action committee to support Yoder, calling her race a key one for Democrats in 2012.

[16] In the general election campaign, Yoder challenged Republican Representative Todd Young to 13 town hall debates, one in each of the district's counties, noting that Young had challenged Representative Baron Hill to numerous debates in the 2010 campaign.

[17][18] She criticized Young's association with Representative Todd Akin and their co-sponsoring of No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which originally included the term "forcible rape"; the word "forcible" was later removed from the bill, and Young distanced himself from Akin's remarks.

[21] In 2017, Yoder helped organize the first-ever South Central Opioid Summit in Bloomington, which brought together healthcare professionals, social service workers, policy experts and police officers in order to examine ways to increase treatment for those suffering from opiate addiction.

[23] She has also been outspoken against projects that threaten the Lake Monroe Watershed and advocates for the unique ecosystems found within south-central Indiana's state and national forests.

[26][27] In June 2020, Yoder won the Democratic Primary for Indiana State Senate district 40, securing a landslide of approximately 80% of the vote.

[29] Yoder was selected as Senate Minority Leader after accusations of sexual harassment came against Greg Taylor.