Matthew Ritter

Matthew Ritter
Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2021
Preceded byJoe Aresimowicz
Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 6, 2021
Preceded byJoe Aresimowicz
Succeeded byJason Rojas
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2011
Preceded byKenneth Green
Personal details
BornMatthew Delis Ritter
(1983-05-12) May 12, 1983 (age 43)
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseMarilyn Katz
Parent(s)Thomas Ritter
Christine Keller
EducationColby College (BA)
University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD)
WebsiteState House website

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. 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.

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 Connecticut House of Representatives from 1991 to 1999. His mother, Christine Keller, is a former Connecticut Supreme Court justice. Ritter's grandfather, George Ritter, also served in the legislature from 1969 to 1981.

Ritter attended Kingswood Oxford School for High School, then graduated from Colby College in 2004 with a major in Government. He attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 2007.

In 2007, Ritter took a job with Hartford-based law firm Shipman and Goodwin, LLP. He is a partner specializing in public finance, municipal law and election law.

Political career

In 2007, Ritter was elected to the Hartford City Council, where he chaired the Planning & Economic Development and Legislative Affairs committees. 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). In the general election, he easily defeated Republican Kenneth Lerman, and Connecticut for Lieberman candidate Emanuel L. Blake.

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

Democratic primary: Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 1,153 50.04%
Democratic Kenneth Green 1,151 49.96%
Total votes 2,304 100%
Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2010
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

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 6,038 93.60%
Republican Kenneth Lerman 413 6.40%
Total votes 3,894 100%

2014

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 3,566 91.58%
Republican Kenneth Lerman 328 8.42%
Total votes 3,894 100%

2016

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 5,662 92.05%
Republican Kenneth Lerman 489 7.95%
Total votes 6,151 100%

2018

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 4,419 100%
Total votes 4,419 100%

2020

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 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

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 3,061 100%
Total votes 3,061 100%

2024

Connecticut's 1st House of Representatives district election, 2024
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matthew Ritter 4,961 100%
Total votes 4,961 100%

References

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ Pazniokas, Mark (April 6, 2018). "A more diverse judiciary, including a leader's brother-in-law". ctmirror.org. CT Mirror. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Graduate Outcomes at Kingswood Oxford, a private day school". May 27, 2022. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Nov 2 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2012 Nov 6 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  10. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2014 Nov 4 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  11. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2016 Nov 8 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2018 Nov 6 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  13. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2020 Nov 3 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  14. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2022 Nov 8 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  15. ↑ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2024 Nov 5 :: General Election :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved November 17, 2025.