Ledbetter's political career began at the young age of 23 when he was elected to the Rainsville City Council in 1984. He served three terms on the council before running for mayor of Rainsville, a position he eventually won unopposed and held until 2002. His early political experience at the local level provided him with a foundation in governance that would later inform his work at the state level.

Before entering state politics, Ledbetter built a 33-year career at Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative, where he started as a young man mowing grass while still in high school. He completed a four-year apprentice program to become a journeyman lineman, earned a certificate in field engineering, and eventually became a key accounts manager overseeing the cooperative's largest customers before retiring to pursue his legislative career. His extensive background in the electrical cooperative industry gave him valuable insights into infrastructure and economic development issues.

In 2014, Ledbetter was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for District 24. Within three years, he made history by becoming the first freshman legislator ever elected as House Majority Leader in 2017, a position he held for six years. Following the announcement that Speaker Mac McCutcheon would not seek re-election, Ledbetter announced his candidacy for Speaker in 2021. The Republican caucus nominated him for the position in November 2022, and he was officially elected by a unanimous 102-0 vote on January 10, 2023.

As Speaker, Ledbetter has focused on several key priorities including improving education, making adoption easier in Alabama, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and supporting infrastructure development through initiatives like the Rebuild Alabama Act. His leadership was particularly evident in the 2024 legislative session when he successfully guided comprehensive gambling and lottery legislation through the House, demonstrating his ability to build consensus on complex and historically contentious issues.

Ledbetter's educational background includes graduation from Plainview High School in Rainsville, Alabama. He and his wife Teresa Wilks Ledbetter live in Rainsville and attend Broadway Baptist Church. They have two sons, Nathan and Nick. Throughout his career, Ledbetter has maintained strong ties to his rural roots in DeKalb County, often citing his humble upbringing on Sand Mountain as formative to his character and work ethic.

In recognition of his contributions to public service and leadership, Ledbetter was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Jacksonville State University during its fall commencement ceremony on December 13, 2024. He was also named the 2023 State Lawmaker of the Year by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions for his support of credit unions and their legislative priorities.

Ledbetter's rise from local politics to becoming one of Alabama's most influential legislative leaders reflects his ability to build relationships across party lines and his commitment to advancing policies that benefit his constituents and the state as a whole. His leadership style, characterized by collaboration rather than coercion, has earned him the trust of his colleagues in the House, allowing him to effectively shape the legislative agenda and guide significant legislation to passage.