Born Suzanne Parkinson Pluskoski, and raised in New Jersey, Lowden graduated in 1970 from Gloucester Catholic High School.
For her work, Lowden received a Women of Achievement Award from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.
According to statements filed with the Senate Office of Public Records, she and her husband have more than $50 million in stock holdings, much of it in Las Vegas gaming companies.
[5] In 1992, Lowden ran for the Nevada State Senate in Clark County District 3 (map), that usually elects members of the Democratic Party.
She defeated longtime incumbent Jack Vergiels, who was then serving as the Nevada Senate Majority Leader.
[10] Her main opponents in the Republican primary were businessman Danny Tarkanian and former state assemblywoman Sharron Angle.
Politico also cited controversy over Lowden's use of a campaign supporter's RV, and "an inept response to a question about the Civil Rights Act" as reasons.
[14] Tarkanian was her closest primary opponent in two surveys conducted as of April 2010,[15] but polling after Lowden's infamous suggestion that people use the barter system to lower their health care costs[16] showed Angle moving to first place.
They later built the Santa Fe Station casino and remain majority owners of the Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall.
Lowden had an impromptu appearance on The Tonight Show in 1978 where she was picked out of the audience by guest host Don Rickles who fawned on her as a result of her physical beauty.
Rickles was struck by her beauty and joked towards the end of their discussion, "you've got a great a body, I'm not saying that in any kind of sexy way...I want to be with you so bad Sue!"