Matt Leber | |
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Member, South Carolina Senate District 41 | |
Member of the South CarolinaHouseofRepresentatives from the 116th district | |
Preceded by | Chardale Murray |
Succeeded by | James Teeple |
In office December 2022 –December 2024 | |
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 Member representing South Carolina State Senate District 41. [1]
Prior to being elected to office,Leber,a combat veteran,served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army. [2]
In September 2023,Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41. [3] In June,2024,he defeated incumbent Senator Sandy Senn in the Republican Primary to become the Nominee. [1]
Leber faced Democrat Rita Adkins in the general election. [4] [5] On November 5,2024,he defeated Adkins to become the next Senator. [6]
In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, [7] Leber defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray. [8] Representative Leber served as Chairman of the Freshman Caucus,on the House Judiciary Committee,and on the newly formed standing House Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI). [9] [2]
In April 2023,Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election. [10] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina. [11] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign,Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. [12]
Leber supports the Second Amendment and has an A rating from the NRA. [13] 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." [14]
Leber sponsored a bill criminalizing the trafficking of fentanyl and was instrumental in pushing it through the House Judiciary Committee. [15] [16] 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. [17] 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". [18]
Matt Leber describes himself as pro-life and voted for the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. [19] [20]
Leber supports term limits. [21]