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Matt Leber

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
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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