Matt Leber | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the
South Carolina House of Representatives from the 116th district | |
Assumed office December 2022 | |
Preceded by | Chardale Murray |
Personal details | |
Born | Washington, North Carolina, U.S. | April 5, 1973
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | S. Michelle Leber |
Alma mater | Mitchell Community College |
Website |
www |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Matt W. Leber is an American politician and Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 116. [1] He is the Republican nominee for South Carolina State Senate District 41. [2]
Prior to being elected to office, Leber, a combat veteran, served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army. [3]
Leber supports the Second Amendment and has an A rating from the NRA. [4] In 2024, he voted for Constitutional Carry, also known as permitless carry, speaking out against Senate amendments applying increased penalties on non permit holders, calling them unconstitutional and stating, "we cannot have a different class of citizens in America." [5]
In 2023, when Charleston County banned firearms on over 11,000 acres of public land, Leber called on the Governor and state Attorney General to reverse the ban. [6] [7]
Leber sponsored a bill criminalizing the trafficking of fentanyl and was instrumental in pushing it through the House Judiciary Committee. [8] [9] Leber has repeatedly called for increased security along the US Mexico border to combat drug trafficking and has proposed measures to dissuade illegal aliens from coming to South Carolina. [10] During Leber's 2022 House race, State Representative Wendell Gilliard accused Leber of having participated in armed patrols on the US Mexico border and having "direct ties to the Three Percenters". [11]
Matt Leber describes himself as pro-life and voted for the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. [12] [13]
Leber supports term limits. [14]
In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, Leber defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray. [15]
Representative Leber serves as Chairman of the Freshman Caucus, on the House Judiciary Committee, and on the newly formed standing House Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI). [16] [17]
In September, 2023, Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41. [18] In June, 2024, he defeated incumbent Senator Sandy Senn in the Republican Primary. [19] Leber will face Democrat Rita Adkins in the general election. [20] [21]
In April 2023, Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election. [22] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina. [23] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign, Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. [24]
Matt Leber | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the
South Carolina House of Representatives from the 116th district | |
Assumed office December 2022 | |
Preceded by | Chardale Murray |
Personal details | |
Born | Washington, North Carolina, U.S. | April 5, 1973
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | S. Michelle Leber |
Alma mater | Mitchell Community College |
Website |
www |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Matt W. Leber is an American politician and Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 116. [1] He is the Republican nominee for South Carolina State Senate District 41. [2]
Prior to being elected to office, Leber, a combat veteran, served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army. [3]
Leber supports the Second Amendment and has an A rating from the NRA. [4] In 2024, he voted for Constitutional Carry, also known as permitless carry, speaking out against Senate amendments applying increased penalties on non permit holders, calling them unconstitutional and stating, "we cannot have a different class of citizens in America." [5]
In 2023, when Charleston County banned firearms on over 11,000 acres of public land, Leber called on the Governor and state Attorney General to reverse the ban. [6] [7]
Leber sponsored a bill criminalizing the trafficking of fentanyl and was instrumental in pushing it through the House Judiciary Committee. [8] [9] Leber has repeatedly called for increased security along the US Mexico border to combat drug trafficking and has proposed measures to dissuade illegal aliens from coming to South Carolina. [10] During Leber's 2022 House race, State Representative Wendell Gilliard accused Leber of having participated in armed patrols on the US Mexico border and having "direct ties to the Three Percenters". [11]
Matt Leber describes himself as pro-life and voted for the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. [12] [13]
Leber supports term limits. [14]
In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, Leber defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray. [15]
Representative Leber serves as Chairman of the Freshman Caucus, on the House Judiciary Committee, and on the newly formed standing House Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI). [16] [17]
In September, 2023, Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41. [18] In June, 2024, he defeated incumbent Senator Sandy Senn in the Republican Primary. [19] Leber will face Democrat Rita Adkins in the general election. [20] [21]
In April 2023, Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election. [22] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina. [23] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign, Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. [24]