Cates was selected as the Conservative candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge on 24 October 2018.[12] She had previously supported continued membership of the European Union in the 2016 referendum but, during the election campaign, commented she had since changed her mind and supported Brexit.[2] Cates was elected as MP in the 2019 general election with a majority of 7,210 (14.5%) on a swing of 8.6% from Labour to the Conservatives.[13]