In this he succeeded in the 1997 elections when the Liberal Party gained 5 new seats in parliament and became junior partner in the centrist first cabinet of Kjell Magne Bondevik.

He also gained much publicity for criticizing Norwegians traveling to Sweden in order to buy cheaper food, calling it "Harry".

[2] On 19 March 2010, it was announced that Sponheim would become the new County Governor of Hordaland, replacing the retiring Svein Alsaker.

[4] On 2 March 2022, he announced that he would be retiring in early June and step down as county governor of Vestland.

His successor, Liv Signe Navarsete, was nominated on 3 June and assumed office on 1 September.