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

Matt Leber is an American politician and Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 116.[1] In the 2022 general election for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, he defeated Democratic incumbent Chardale Murray[2] who had been a member of the South Carolina House since 2020. 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.[3][4]

Prior to being elected to office, Leber, a combat veteran, served eight years as a paratrooper in the United States Army.[5]

Leber supports term limits.[6]

Statements were issued by Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina who won his re-election bid,[7] and Drew McKissick, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party.[8]

In April 2023, Leber was the first South Carolina lawmaker to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in the 2024 presidential election.[9] Leber served as Ramaswamy's State Chair for South Carolina.[10] After Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign, Leber joined Ramaswamy in endorsing President Trump in the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary.[11]

In September, 2023, Leber announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Senate District 41.[12] In the Republican primary, Leber will face incumbent Sandy Senn, who controversially voted with Democrats on key issues such as abortion, COVID-19 restrictions, and the Second Amendment.

References

  1. ^ Whalen, Emma (November 8, 2022). ""Charleston County Statehouse seats gain Republican newcomers"". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Brack, Andy (November 12, 2022). ""GOP's grip on S.C. House tightens"". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Johnson, Dejon (2023-11-13). "House forms first-in-the-nation committee to study AI impact and policy development". WACH. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  4. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  6. ^ Tillman, Scott (February 28, 2022). ""MATTHEW LEBER PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS"". US Term Limits. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Phillips, Patrick (November 9, 2022). ""SC Republicans celebrate 'red wave' sweep across the state"". WIS-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Vivek Ramaswamy Picks Up Support In South Carolina - FITSNews". 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  10. ^ Byrd, Caitlin (2023-08-20). "Vivek Ramaswamy 'unsurprised' he could be debate target for Ron DeSantis". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. ^ https://twitter.com/voteleber/status/1749609532131549388
  12. ^ 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.
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