Matthew Ritter
American politician (born 1983)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew Delis Ritter (born May 12, 1983) is an American attorney and politician serving as the 105th Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives since 2021.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected as the representative from the 1st District in 2010, and previously served as Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 2017 to 2021.[2]
Matthew Ritter | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Aresimowicz |
| Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 6, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Aresimowicz |
| Succeeded by | Jason Rojas |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Green |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matthew Delis Ritter May 12, 1983 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marilyn Katz |
| Parent | Thomas Ritter |
| Education | Colby College (BA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
| Website | State House website |
Early life and education
Ritter was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Thomas D. Ritter is a lawyer, lobbyist, and politician who served as the Speaker of the House of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1991 to 1999.[3] his mother Christine Keller is a Judge.[4] Ritter's grandfather, George Ritter, also served in the legislature from 1969 to 1981.[3]
He attended Kingswood Oxford School for High School,[5] then graduated from Colby College in 2004 with a major in Government.[1][2] He attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctordegree in 2007.[1]
In 2007, He took a job with Hartford law firm Shipman and Goodwin, LLP. He is a Partner specializing in public finance, municipal law and election law.[2]
Political career
In 2007, Ritter was elected to the Hartford City Council, where he chaired the Planning & Economic Development and Legislative Affairs committees.[1] In 2010, Ritter challenged 16-year incumbent Kenneth Green in the Democratic primary for Connecticut's 1st Assembly District, defeating him by just two votes (1,153 to 1,151).[6] In the general election, he easily defeated Republican Kenneth Lerman, and Connecticut for Lieberman candidate Emanuel L. Blake.
He spent three years on the Hartford City Council prior to his election to the State Assembly, while on the Council he chaired the Planning & Economic Development and Legislative Affairs committees. In 2010, Ritter defeated incumbent Kenneth Green in the Democratic primary 1,153 votes to 1,151 votes.[6] He won election to the heavily Democratic 1st assembly district in a three-way race defeating Republican Kenneth Lerman and Connecticut for Lieberman candidate Emanuel L. Blake.[7]
In 2017, Ritter became the Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives, and was elected Speaker of the House in 2021.
Electoral history
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 1,153 | 50.04% | |
| Democratic | Kenneth Green | 1,151 | 49.96% | |
| Total votes | 2,304 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 4,628 | 90.23% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 398 | 7.76% | |
| Connecticut for Lieberman | Emanuel L. Blake | 56 | 1.09% | |
| Independent | Emanuel L. Blake | 47 | 0.92% | |
| Total | Emanuel L. Blake | 103 | 2.01% | |
| Total votes | 5,129 | 100% | ||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 6,038 | 93.60% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 413 | 6.40% | |
| Total votes | 3,894 | 100% | ||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 3,566 | 91.58% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 328 | 8.42% | |
| Total votes | 3,894 | 100% | ||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 5,662 | 92.05% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 489 | 7.95% | |
| Total votes | 6,151 | 100% | ||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 4,419 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 4,419 | 100% | ||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 5,198 | 91.77% | |
| Independent | Mark Greenstein | 290 | 5.12% | |
| Independent | Daniel Piper | 176 | 3.11% | |
| Total votes | 5,664 | 100% | ||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 3,061 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 3,061 | 100% | ||
2024
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 4,961 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 4,961 | 100% | ||
