DeeDee Ritchie

Ritchie was born on September 22, 1953, in Leesville, Louisiana. In 1975 she graduated from Auburn University, and in 1979 she graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a masters in education. During her time in college she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She has a career in education and won Florida Teacher of the year award in 1990, and was inducted into the Florida Teaching hall of fame in 1998.^[2][1] DeeDee was married to congressman Buzz Ritchie for 5 years, but they were separated and on the way to divorce when DeeDee ran for office.^[3]

Ritchie's political career started in 1998 when she ran to fill the seat left by her estranged husband Buzz Ritchie retiring.^[3] She ran in the primary with an endorsement from her ex-husband, and would beat John Wyche.^[4] In the general election she would beat Paul Young by almost 10%.^[5]

In 2000 she would run for the 1st district of the Florida Senate. During the election she was called out by her opponent Durell Peaden for running negative and misleading advertising.^[6] In the general election Ritchie ended up losing to Peaden by over 15%.^[7]

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