Harper was born and raised in Oakland, California, the youngest of three children.^[2] His mother was a single mom who remarried a Vietnam veteran who gave him a disciplined upbringing.^[2] In 1988, Harper accepted a position as a police dispatcher in Emeryville, California^[3] later rising to the rank of sergeant^[2] and then in 2005,^[2] as a police officer in Tracy, California.^[1] rising to the rank of lieutenant.^[2] He graduated with a B.A. in pastoral studies from Patten University^[3] and an M.B.A. from John F. Kennedy University.^[2] In 2001, he moved to Antioch.^[1] In 2009, he was appointed to the Antioch Unified School District’s Board of Trustees.^[3] In 2010, he won a 4-year term on the City Council, the second African-American to serve on the council after Reggie Moore, who was elected in 2006^[1] reflecting Antioch's growing Black population which had increased from 10% in 2000 to 17% in 2010.^[1] In 2012, running on a zero tolerance platform, he won election as mayor^[1] succeeding James Davis.^[3] He was the first African-American mayor of Antioch in its 162 year history.^[1] As the mayorship, unlike the City Council, was a full-time position, he also retired from his job as a police lieutenant in Tracy.^[1] In January 2015, an unsuccessful recall effort was launched against him due to concerns over the still high levels of violent and property crime.^[4] In the November 8, 2016 general election, he was narrowly defeated for re-election by a margin of 67 votes by Sean Wright.^[5][6]

Harper is an anointed preacher.^[2] He is married to Lisa Harper; they have two children.^[2] Wade Harper is a published authored. He published his first book in 2018, “Anointed for Leadership: Lessons from Law Enforcement and Pastoral Ministry.” He published his second book in 2021 entitled, “Keep Antioch Beautiful.”

In November of 2020 Wade accepting a position as CEO of a non-profit, Glad Tidings Community Development Corporation in Hayward, CA.