Diane Harkey

From Ballotpedia
Revision as of 22:07, 17 March 2026 by Marielle Bricker (contribs) (replace section with new scorecards widget (batch: batch-20260317-161854-5face865))
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Diane Harkey
Republican Party
Prior offices:
Dana Point City Council
California State Board of Equalization District 4
Years in office: 2014 - 2019
Successor: Mike Schaefer (D)
California State Assembly District 73
Years in office: 2008 - 2014
Elections and appointments
Last election
June 7, 2022
Education
Bachelor's
University of California, Irvine
Personal
Profession
Banker
Contact
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign YouTube
Personal Facebook
Personal X
Personal LinkedIn

Diane Harkey (Republican Party) was a member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing District 4. She assumed office in 2014. She left office on January 7, 2019.

Harkey ran for election to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to represent District 5 in California. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.

Harkey is a former Republican member of the California State Assembly, representing District 73 from 2008 to 2014. Harkey did not seek re-election in 2014. She also served as a member of the Dana Point City Council.

Biography

Harkey is a member of the Capistrano Valley Symphony Board of Trustees, Dana Point Fifth Marine Regiment Support Group Board Member, Orange County Council of Governments and South Orange County Major Investment Study Group.[1]

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2022)

General election

General election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5

Incumbent Katrina Foley defeated Patricia Bates in the general election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Katrina Foley
Katrina Foley (Nonpartisan)
 
51.3
 
116,105
Image of Patricia Bates
Patricia Bates (Nonpartisan)
 
48.7
 
110,238

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 226,343
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5

Incumbent Katrina Foley and Patricia Bates defeated Diane Harkey and Kevin Muldoon in the primary for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Katrina Foley
Katrina Foley (Nonpartisan)
 
41.8
 
64,888
✔
Image of Patricia Bates
Patricia Bates (Nonpartisan)
 
22.2
 
34,467
Image of Diane Harkey
Diane Harkey (Nonpartisan)
 
18.5
 
28,809
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Kevin Muldoon (Nonpartisan)
 
17.5
 
27,229

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 155,393
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: California's 49th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 49

Mike Levin defeated Diane Harkey in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mike Levin
Mike Levin (D)
 
56.4
 
166,453
Image of Diane Harkey
Diane Harkey (R)
 
43.6
 
128,577

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 295,030
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 49

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 49 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Diane Harkey
Diane Harkey (R)
 
25.5
 
46,468
✔
Image of Mike Levin
Mike Levin (D)
 
17.5
 
31,850
Image of Sara Jacobs
Sara Jacobs (D)
 
15.8
 
28,778
Image of Douglas Applegate
Douglas Applegate (D)
 
13.1
 
23,850
Image of Kristin Gaspar
Kristin Gaspar (R)
 
8.5
 
15,467
Image of Rocky Chávez
Rocky Chávez (R)
 
7.5
 
13,739
Image of Paul Kerr
Paul Kerr (D)
 
4.4
 
8,099
Image of Brian Maryott
Brian Maryott (R)
 
3.0
 
5,496
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Mike Schmitt (R)
 
1.3
 
2,379
Image of Joshua Schoonover
Joshua Schoonover (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
1,362
Image of Craig Nordal
Craig Nordal (R)
 
0.6
 
1,156
Image of David Medway
David Medway (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.6
 
1,066
Image of Robert Pendleton
Robert Pendleton (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
0.5
 
905
Image of Danielle St. John
Danielle St. John (G)
 
0.4
 
690
Image of Joshua Hancock
Joshua Hancock (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
552
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jordan Mills (Peace and Freedom Party)
 
0.1
 
233

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 182,090
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2014

California Board of Equalization, District 4, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDiane Harkey 61.4% 1,030,580
     Democratic Nader Shahatit 38.6% 648,980
Total Votes 1,679,560

2012

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2012
California State Assembly, District 73, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDiane L. Harkey Incumbent 64.3% 130,030
     Democratic James Corbett 35.7% 72,196
Total Votes 202,226

2010

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2010
California State Assembly, District 73 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Diane Harkey (R) 81,164
Judy Jones (D) 49,846

2008

California State Assembly District 73
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Diane Harkey (R) 87,905
Judy Jones (D) 67,485
Andrew Favor (L) 10,171

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Diane Harkey did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2018

Campaign website

Harkey's campaign website stated the following:

Diane Harkey, Candidate for the 49th Congressional District in California, was elected in November 2014 to the State Board of Equalization where she represents the voters of the 49th Congressional District as well as residents of 5 Southern California counties including Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and a section of San Bernardino. Harkey recently served three terms in the California State Assembly representing the 73rd District encompassing nearly half of the residents of the 49th Congressional District.

As Chairwoman of the State Board of Equalization, Diane capitalizes on her private and public-sector experience to promote the rights and interests of all taxpayers.

As a Constitutional officer, Harkey advocates for policies that support job creation, employment opportunities, improve California’s state budget outlook, and reduce the burden of complying with government audits and various tax regulations.

Harkey also served as Chair of the Business Taxes Committee, the regulatory body at the BOE charged with writing, updating and streamlining regulations that implement California’s business tax statutes.

In her first year at the Board, Harkey successfully pushed for changes to provide clarity on 1031 exchanges in real estate transactions, and soon began to establish clear guidelines for sales tax exemptions for medical devices and inventories. She held numerous seminars to help tax professionals, business owners and individuals navigate California’s complex tax laws and regulations. Her office has favorably resolved over 400 constituent cases district-wide, and continues to hold educational events explaining property tax assessment, the importance of Proposition 13, manufacturing exemptions and a variety of topics regarding state tax law.

Harkey strongly supports policies that ensure future improvements in water, power and transportation and public safety that will allow California to retain its place as one of the top-ranking economies in the world.[2]

Campaign advertisements

The following is an example of an ad from Harkey's 2018 election campaign.

"Diane Harkey - Tax Fighter" - Diane Harkey for Congress campaign ad, released April 24, 2018

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Harkey served on the following committees:

California committee assignments, 2013
• Appropriations, Vice chair
• Banking and Finance
• Budget
• Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security
• Revenue and Taxation
• Legislative Budget

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Harkey served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Harkey served on these committees:

Issues

Harkey's sponsored legislation includes:

  • AB 594 - State-mandated local programs
  • AB 824 - Property taxation: assessment procedures
  • AB 1278 - Elections: initiatives

For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.

Political Courage test

Harkey did not provide answers to the California State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.[3]

Legislative scorecard

Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[4][5]

On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Harkey ranked as a 3.[6]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Diane Harkey campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018U.S. House California District 49Lost general$1,645,908 $1,642,059
2012California State Assembly, District 73Won $504,744 N/A**
2010California State Assembly, District 73Won $357,062 N/A**
2008California State Assembly, District 73Won $570,496 N/A**
Grand total$3,078,210 $1,642,059
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in California

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2025.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2012.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Harkey and her husband, Dan, have one child.

See also

2022 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of California.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Heart of the Primaries
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel
Union Station


External links

Candidate

Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
    2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named themes
    3. ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue Positions," accessed March 13, 2014
    4. ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
    5. ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
    6. ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		California State Board of Equalization
    2014–2019     		Succeeded by
    Mike Schaefer
    Preceded by
    -     		California State Assembly District 73
    2008–2014     		Succeeded by
    William Brough (R)
    v • e
    Largest U.S. Cities by Population
    Mayors • City council officials • Overlapping counties • Municipal partisanship
    A-C
    D-H
    I-M
    N-R
    S-W
    Flag of California
    v • e
    State of California
    Sacramento (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diane_Harkey&oldid=11140253"