| State House: | South Carolina |
| District: | 116th |
| Predecessor: | Chardale Murray |
| Party: | Republican |
| Birth Date: | 5 April 1973 |
| Birth Place: | Washington, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Spouse: | S. Michelle Leber |
| Alma Mater: | Mitchell Community College |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Office: | Member, South Carolina Senate District 41 |
| Termstart2: | December 2022 |
| Termend2: | December 2024 |
| Successor: | James Teeple |
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.
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]