[3] She ran in the 1996 British Columbia general election as a member of the Progresssive Democratic Alliance for the riding of Bulkley Valley-Stikine.
[6] Hartwell ran once again in the 2013 British Columbia general election as the BC Liberal candidate for the Bulkley Valley-Stikine riding.
[5] In November 2023, Hartwell announced her intention to run as the BC Conservative candidate for Bulkley Valley-Stikine in the 2024 British Columbia general election.
[4] On election day, Hartwell received over fifty per cent of the vote, upsetting NDP incumbent and cabinet minister Nathan Cullen.
[2][8][9] Hartwell called for Bonnie Henry's firing as BC's provincial health officer for her actions during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia such as supporting the COVID-19 vaccine.