Jason Cord Buckel, born on November 3, 1971, is an American politician and the minority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates. He has been representing District 1B since 2015 and is a member of the Republican Party.1
Early Life and Career: Buckel was born in Allegany County, Maryland. He graduated from Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, Maryland, and attended George Mason University, where he earned a B.A. degree in political science with honors. He also attended the University of Maryland School of Law, where he earned a J.D. degree with honors. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1996. After graduating, he started his own law firm and became a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Political Career: Buckel became involved with politics in 2006, when he became a member of the Maryland Republican Party. In 2012, he led the Allegany County campaign for Alex Mooney’s exploratory bid in Maryland’s 6th congressional district. In February 2014, he filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates, seeking to unseat incumbent Delegate Kevin Kelly. He defeated Kelly in the general election, receiving 58.9 percent of the vote.
In the Legislature: Buckel was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 14, 2015. From 2017 to 2018, he served as the Chief Deputy Minority Whip for the House Republican Caucus, and as the Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates since April 2021. In 2016, Buckel filed to run for delegate for the Republican National Convention, representing Marco Rubio. He received 1.8 percent of the vote in the primary election.
Personal Details: Buckel resides in Cumberland, Maryland, U.S. He is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cumberland, Maryland.
