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Matt Leber

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Matt Leber
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 116th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2022
Preceded byChardale Murray
Personal details
Born (1973-04-05) April 5, 1973 (age 51)
Washington, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseS. Michelle Leber
Alma materMitchell Community College
Websitewww.leberforsenate.com Edit this at Wikidata
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army

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]

Early life and career

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Prior to being elected to office, Leber, a combat veteran, served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army.[3]

Positions

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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]

Leber sponsored a bill criminalizing the trafficking of fentanyl and was instrumental in pushing it through the House Judiciary Committee.[6][7] 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.[8] 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".[9]

Matt Leber describes himself as pro-life and voted for the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act.[10][11]

Leber supports term limits.[12]

Political career

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In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, Leber defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray.[13] 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).[14][15]

In April 2023, Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election.[16] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina.[17] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign, Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary.[18]

In September, 2023, Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41.[19] In June, 2024, he defeated incumbent Senator Sandy Senn in the Republican Primary.[2] Leber will face Democrat Rita Adkins in the general election.[20] [21]

References

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  1. ^ Whalen, Emma (November 8, 2022). ""Charleston County Statehouse seats gain Republican newcomers"". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Matt Leber leads SC Sen. District 41 GOP primary by 31 votes; recount likely". www.msn.com. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  3. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  4. ^ "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  5. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: SC's new gun law could be headed to Supreme Court". iHeart. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  6. ^ "2023-2024 Bill 3503: Trafficking in Fentanyl". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  7. ^ "Bill to create 'fentanyl-induced homicide' charge advancing at SC State House". www.msn.com. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  8. ^ "South Carolina Senate Race: 'Let His Criminal Record Speak For Itself' - FITSNews". 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  9. ^ Sinner, Holy City (2022-11-02). "Rep. Wendell Gilliard Calls on Authorities to Investigate State House Candidate's Alleged Extremist Ties". Holy City Sinner. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  10. ^ "Meet Matt". www.leberforsenate.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  11. ^ "2023-2024 Bill 474: Abortion - Fetal Heartbeat". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  12. ^ Tillman, Scott (February 28, 2022). ""MATTHEW LEBER PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS"". US Term Limits. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  13. ^ Brack, Andy (November 12, 2022). ""GOP's grip on S.C. House tightens"". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Johnson, Dejon (2023-11-13). "House forms first-in-the-nation committee to study AI impact and policy development". WACH. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  15. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ^ "Vivek Ramaswamy Picks Up Support In South Carolina - FITSNews". 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  17. ^ Byrd, Caitlin (2023-08-20). "Vivek Ramaswamy 'unsurprised' he could be debate target for Ron DeSantis". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  18. ^ https://twitter.com/voteleber/status/1749609532131549388 [bare URL]
  19. ^ Byrd, Caitlin (2023-09-17). "Charleston Republican state senator gets challenger from GOP right flank over abortion ban". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  20. ^ Baldwin, Skyler (March 26, 2024). "Candidate filings expand as deadline approaches". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Brams, Sophie (June 11, 2024). "Matt Leber leads SC Sen. District 41 GOP primary by 31 votes; recount likely". WCBD-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
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