During her tenure in the 61st Iowa General Assembly, Glanton operated under intense public scrutiny. The 1964 Democratic sweep brought opportunities to pass delayed progressive measures, but structural racism remained entrenched across Iowa's labor and housing sectors. Glanton turned her focus toward the practical enforcement mechanisms of non-discrimination law.
She insisted that civil rights legislation without enforcement power was useless. She worked directly on legislation strengthening the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, pushing for the creation of an independent commission equipped with subpoena power and statutory authority to penalize discriminatory employers. When conservative caucuses argued that the state should let the private market self-correct, Glanton cited data from Polk County payrolls proving systematic wage discrimination. Her arguments stripped away polite evasions, forcing the assembly to vote on record.
