About Janet

Since 1975, Janet Buckner has been a staple of the Aurora community. She and her late husband, John, chose  Aurora so their family could flourish. Her family includes her twin daughters, Joy and Jennifer; her son, Jay; Jennifer’s husband, Floyd, and Jay’s wife, Erin; and three granddaughters.

Janet earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Indiana. Early in her career, she worked with children and families as a speech and language therapist. She retired in 2007 after more than three decades in medical sales.

In July 2015, Janet was unanimously elected by a vacancy committee to serve the remainder of the term of her late husband, John W. Buckner, representing House District 40 in southern Aurora. She went on to be reelected to serve the people of House District 40 in 2016, and again in 2018. Following her 2018 victory, she was appointed to the leadership role of Speaker Pro Tempore.

In 2020, Janet P. Buckner was elected to represent Senate District 29 by the people of southern Aurora. She was appointed as Majority Caucus Chair and serves as Chair of the Education Committee.

Senator Buckner is dedicated to legislation that addresses health and education inequities and has proven to be a leader in the state legislature by passing laws to address these issues in a bipartisan manner. She has always believed in giving all individuals a “seat at the table” with regard to policy and legislative issues. She is dedicated to leading by example with grace, inclusivity, and empathy.