Lieutenant Governor Lawton was first elected in 2002.

Lawton first ran for state office in 1996 when she unsuccessfully challenged the Republican incumbent in the 30th Senate District. In 1998 she ran for lieutenant governor as part of Ed Garvey's unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial campaign.

She was was unopposed in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 2006.

Lawton raised more than twice as much as the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, Rep. Jean Hundertmark. Her campaign committee transferred over $97,000 to the Doyle campaign, making it the largest contributor to the governor in the 2006 election cycle just as Hundertmark's committee was the largest contributor for his Republican opponent. The candidates for lieutenant governor gave much more during the 2002 election however.

The Coulee Region United Educators ($1,894), the Human Rights League ($21), NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin ($57), Planned Parenthood Action Fund ($2,976), Planned Parenthood Advocates of WI ($137), SEIU PEA State Fund ($1,982) made independent expenditures supporting Lawton in 2006. The Milwaukee Police Assn ($99), the NRA Political Victory Fund ($39,681) and WI Right to Life ($339) made independent expenditures in support of her Republican counterpart.