 He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1842 and 1843 and was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1844, serving from 1845 to 1847.Afterward, Leake resumed practicing law and in 1851 was elected the first Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, serving from 1852 to 1856.He was elected back to the House of Representatives as an Independent Democrat in 1858, serving again from 1859 to 1861.