He served two terms as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008 representing the electoral district of Cardston-Taber-Warner and then from 2009 to 2012 in Calgary-Glenmore.

[5] Before politics, Hinman was an irrigation farmer, cow-calf producer, purebred-cattle breeder, feedlot operator and small-business entrepreneur.

[8] Hinman is a libertarian, telling Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid in 2009 "I'm all about sharing ideas and inspiring others, not requiring others to do things.

[citation needed] He served as a board member for the federal Conservative Party of Canada in the electoral district of Lethbridge.

[citation needed] Hinman served as vice-president of policy for the Alberta Alliance Party from its founding convention on February 14, 2002, until he was named deputy leader on January 8, 2005.

Hinman won the election on the third ballot at the leadership convention held on November 19, 2005, in Red Deer, Alberta.

A year later, Hinman stepped down as leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party, triggering a leadership convention in October 2009 in Edmonton.

Following Jason Kenney's announcement on May 17, 2022, that he would be resigning as premier of Alberta, Hinman was rumoured to be interested in running for leadership of the UCP.

Hinman was not a resident of the Fort McMurray or Lac La Biche regions, but denied he was an opportunist or ignorant of local issues facing the riding.

[20] He told Fort McMurray Today he was running as a candidate because he felt it was “the most important election in Alberta’s near-term history."

"[20] Hinman finished third in the by-election, behind NDP candidate Ariana Mancini and UCP MLA Brian Jean.

The review also wrote that Hinman was not familiar with the needs and concerns shared by people living in the riding, despite his commentary on community issues at local forums and in interviews with Harvard Media's CFVR-FM and Fort McMurray Today.

He told CTV News that the party was being taken over by "implants, plants, agents inside our board" who are opposed to an independent Alberta.