Matt Leber

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Matt Leber
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 116th district
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
Websitehttps://www.leberforsenate.com/
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]

Early life and career[edit]

Prior to being elected to office, Leber, a combat veteran, served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army.[2]

Political career[edit]

Second Amendment[edit]

Leber strongly supports the Second Amendment and has an A rating from the NRA.[3] In 2024, he voted for Constitutional 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."[4]

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 get involved to secure the Second Amendment rights of Charleston County residents and visitors. [5][6]

Drug trafficking[edit]

Leber sponsored a bill criminalizing the trafficking of fentanyl and was instrumental in pushing it through the House Judiciary Committee. [7] [8] 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.[9] During Leber's 2022 House race, Democrats accused him of having participated in armed patrols on the US Mexico border. [10]

Term Limits[edit]

Leber supports term limits.[11]

2022 South Carolina House race[edit]

See also: 2022 South Carolina House of Representatives election

In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, Leber defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray[12] who had been a member of the South Carolina House since 2020.

Statements were issued by Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina who won his re-election bid,[13] and Drew McKissick, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party.[14]

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), a committee whose formation he was a strong advocate for.[15][16]

2024 South Carolina Senate race[edit]

See also: 2024 South Carolina Senate Election

In September, 2023, Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41.[17] He will be running against Sandy Senn in the Republican primary, where he has questioned her conservative bona fides, citing her pro-choice stance and multiple votes against the Second Amendment. [18]

2024 Presidential candidate endorsements[edit]

In April 2023, Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election.[19] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina.[20] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign, Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Whalen, Emma (November 8, 2022). ""Charleston County Statehouse seats gain Republican newcomers"". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ^ https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/205505/matt-leber
  4. ^ https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-03-11-exclusive-scs-new-gun-law-could-be-headed-to-supreme-court/
  5. ^ https://www.live5news.com/2023/08/29/charleston-county-parks-removes-no-concealable-weapons-allowed-signs/
  6. ^ https://www.southcarolinacarry.org/unlawful-firearm-signs-to-be-immediately-removed-from-charleston-county-parks/
  7. ^ https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/3503.htm
  8. ^ https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/bill-to-create-fentanyl-induced-homicide-charge-advancing-at-sc-state-house/ar-AA1ntjh0
  9. ^ https://www.fitsnews.com/2024/03/27/south-carolina-senate-race-let-his-criminal-record-speak-for-itself/
  10. ^ https://holycitysinner.com/politics/rep.-wendell-gilliard-calls-authorities-investigate-state-house-candidate-s-alleged-extremist-ties/
  11. ^ Tillman, Scott (February 28, 2022). ""MATTHEW LEBER PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS"". US Term Limits. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  12. ^ Brack, Andy (November 12, 2022). ""GOP's grip on S.C. House tightens"". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  13. ^ Phillips, Patrick (November 9, 2022). ""SC Republicans celebrate 'red wave' sweep across the state"". WIS-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  14. ^ Owens, Raymond (November 9, 2022). ""SC GOP leader says straight-ticket voting really helped Republicans in Nov. 8 election"". WCBD-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  15. ^ Johnson, Dejon (2023-11-13). "House forms first-in-the-nation committee to study AI impact and policy development". WACH. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Vivek Ramaswamy Picks Up Support In South Carolina - FITSNews". 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  20. ^ Byrd, Caitlin (2023-08-20). "Vivek Ramaswamy 'unsurprised' he could be debate target for Ron DeSantis". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  21. ^ https://twitter.com/voteleber/status/1749609532131549388
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