Before the Act of Union 1707, the barons of the shire or stewartry of Kirkcudbright elected commissioners to represent them in the unicameral Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of Estates. The number of commissioners was increased from one to two in 1690.
After 1708, Kirkcudbrightshire was represented by one Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Great Britain at Westminster.
List of shire commissioners
1612: Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar and William McCulloch of Mertoun
1617: William McCulloch of Mertoun
1628–33, 1639–40: Sir Patrick McKie of Larg
1641: Alexander Gordon of Earlston
1643: John Gordon of Cardines
1644: William Grierson of Bargatton
1645: John Gordon of Cardines
1645: William Grierson of Bargatton
1645–46: John Broun of Carsluith
1646–47, 1648–49: William Grierson of Bargatton
1661–63: David McBrair of Newark and Alnagill
1665, 1667: George Maxwell of Munches
1669–74: Sir Robert Maxwell of Orchardton
1678: Richard Murray of Broughton
1681–82: Sir Robert Maxwell of Orchardton
1685–86: Hugh Wallace of Ingliston
1689 (convention), 1689–1702: Hugh McGuffock of Rusco
1690–93: William Gordon of Craig (died c.1693)
1693–1702: Patrick Dunbar of Machrimore
1702–07: William Maxwell of Cardoness
1702–1703: John Murray of Broughton
1704–07: Alexander McKie of Palgowan