 Higgins served in the cabinet of Lorne Calvert as the Minister of Labour and later as the Minister of Learning.After the defeat of the NDP government in the 2007 election, Higgins has served as the NDP critic for municipal affairs, liquor and gaming, and women's issues.On January 30, 2009, she announced her bid to succeed Calvert as Saskatchewan NDP leader at the party's June 2009 leadership convention.