Prior to her tenure on the county commission she served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 29th district from 2013 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic Party.

She defeated incumbent Commissioner Libby Szabo for a seat on the Jefferson County Commission in the 2020 election.

[3] Kraft-Tharp won the Democratic primary and defeated Ramirez and Libertarian nominee Hans V. Romer in the election.

[6][7] Ramirez was initially the Republican nominee, but withdrew and a vacancy committee selected Kochevar to replace him.

[18] She considered running to succeed Ed Perlmutter in the United States House of Representatives from Colorado's 7th congressional district during the 2018 election.