Grace Carlson spent several decades advocating for socialist policies and women's rights, beginning with her involvement in the Socialist Workers Party. She transitioned from political activism to focusing on improving conditions for women prisoners after her imprisonment under the Smith Act for opposing US involvement in World War II. Carlson's career included running for various political offices and eventually departing from the Socialist Workers Party due to ideological conflicts with her Catholic beliefs.

Grace Carlson's political identity is marked by a complex interplay between her socialist advocacy and deeply held Catholic beliefs. Her early career in the Socialist Workers Party reveals a commitment to socialist policies, but her departure from the party due to ideological conflicts highlights an ideological agility. Carlson's anti-war stance, which led to her imprisonment, underscores a principled resistance to militarism. Additionally, her post-imprisonment activism for women prisoners suggests a nuanced approach to social justice that transcends traditional party lines.