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(s) | Thomas Ritter Christine Keller |
| Education | Colby College (BA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
| Website | State House website |
Early life and education
editRitter 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
editIn 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
edit2010
edit| 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
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 6,038 | 93.60% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 413 | 6.40% | |
| Total votes | 3,894 | 100% | ||
2014
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 3,566 | 91.58% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 328 | 8.42% | |
| Total votes | 3,894 | 100% | ||
2016
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 5,662 | 92.05% | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 489 | 7.95% | |
| Total votes | 6,151 | 100% | ||
2018
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 4,419 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 4,419 | 100% | ||
2020
edit| 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
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 3,061 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 3,061 | 100% | ||
2024
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter | 4,961 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 4,961 | 100% | ||
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Matt Ritter Biography | Connecticut House Democrats". www.housedems.ct.gov. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Shipman & Goodwin LLP". Shipman Shipman & Goodwin LLP - Matthew D. Ritter. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- 1 2 "Ritter family of Hartford extends its influence in Connecticut legislature, courts". Hartford Courant. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- ↑ Pazniokas, Mark (April 6, 2018). "A more diverse judiciary, including a leader's brother-in-law". ctmirror.org. CT Mirror. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Graduate Outcomes at Kingswood Oxford, a private day school". May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
- 1 2 "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Nov 2 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2012 Nov 6 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2014 Nov 4 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2016 Nov 8 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2018 Nov 6 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2020 Nov 3 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2024 Nov 5 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
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