He represented the electoral district of Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

[5][6] In the 2000 federal election, MacLeod was the Progressive Conservative candidate in the electoral district of Bras d'Or—Cape Breton.

[7][8] He lost to Liberal Rodger Cuzner, finishing second, ahead of NDP incumbent Michelle Dockrill.

[9][10] MacLeod returned to provincial politics in 2006, defeating former Liberal MLA Russell MacKinnon for the Progressive Conservative nomination in Cape Breton West,[11] then winning the seat in the 2006 general election.

[12][13] On October 25, 2007, MacLeod was elected Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.