Dottie Bailey holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University. She has spent several years in political activism, becoming involved with Heritage Action following significant civil unrest. Bailey joined the St. Louis Tea Party Coalition Board in 2015 and was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in November 2018, assuming office the following January. Currently, she serves as vice chair of the House Children and Families Committee.

Dottie Bailey's political identity is marked by a blend of fiscal conservatism and socially engaged conservatism. Her support for reducing banking regulations aligns with a traditional conservative economic stance, yet her involvement with the Tea Party and focus on children and family issues suggests a unique intersection of fiscal and social conservatism. Bailey's legislative record indicates an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, revealing a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. This juxtaposition of policy positions prompts deeper inquiry into how she reconciles these seemingly disparate elements in her political philosophy.