Brinks previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018, worked as an executive at a non-profit before seeking office.
[4] In the House, she served on the Workforce and Talent Development, Education, Health Policy, and Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committees.
Brinks ran in the primary as a write-in candidate, exceeding the 1,000 votes required to win the Democratic nomination.
[11] Due to term limits, Brinks was unable to run for re-election in 2018, and instead ran successfully for the 29th district of the Michigan Senate.
Brinks defeated fellow state representative Chris Afendoulis, a Republican, and Libertarian and Working Class Party candidates.