[3] Harper was first elected to the Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) in 1998,[4] re-elected with the most votes in 2002,[5] and named to an uncontested third term in 2006.

The HBUHSD serves the secondary education needs of the Orange County communities of Huntington Beach, most of Westminster, most of Fountain Valley, a portion of Garden Grove and all of unincorporated Midway City.

After completing his third term on the HBUHSD Board of Trustees, on November 2, 2010, Harper was elected to become a member of city council for Huntington Beach, California.

[6] Harper's campaign platform included public safety, infrastructure, economic development, administrative and fiscal accountability, property rights, personal freedom and opposition to higher taxes.

[3][9] As Mayor, Harper worked to complete the Vans Skate Park,[10] broke ground on a new senior center,[11] and sought to repeal several laws, including the 1987 ban on state-approved fireworks.

In 2014, he was elected to the California State Assembly, defeating Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry, a fellow Republican.