In 1986, Beck ran for the
Nebraska Legislature against State Senator
Vard Johnson, a Democrat, who represented the
Omaha-based 8th district. She was joined in the primary by attorney Horace Reynolds IV and railroad administrator George Davis. Beck argued that Johnson had an "inconsistent approach" in the legislature, and attacked him for proposing a sales tax on utility services. Johnson narrowly placed first in the primary, winning 40 percent of the vote to Beck's 39 percent, and they both advanced to the general election. In the general election, Beck campaigned as a social conservative and a supporter of the death penalty, noting, "The unborn has no judge, no jury, no appeal[.]" Johnson raised the most money out of any legislative candidate statewide, and significantly outraised and outspent Beck. In the final days of the campaign, U.S. Senator
Edward Zorinsky, a conservative Democrat, said that he "would vote for" Beck "if [he] lived in that district." Ultimately, Johnson narrowly defeated Beck, winning re-election with 52 percent of the vote. In 1988, Johnson announced that he would resign from his seat in the legislature, effective 1989. Governor
Kay Orr appointed Beck as Johnson's successor, and she was sworn in on January 4, 1989. Beck ran for re-election in 1990, and was challenged by
Eric J. Will, a former legislative aide to Johnson. In the primary election, Beck placed first over Will by a wide margin, winning 59–41 percent, and they both advanced to the general election. The candidates' positions on abortion was a defining issue of the campaign; Beck was endorsed by the Nebraska Coalition for Life, while Will ran on his support for abortion rights. Beck was narrowly defeated by Will, receiving 47 percent to his 53 percent. ==Death==