| Office | Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives |
|---|---|
| Term start | January 6, 2021 |
| Predecessor | Joe Aresimowicz |
| Office 1 | Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives |
| Term start 1 | January 3, 2017 |
| Term end 1 | January 6, 2021 |
| Predecessor 1 | Joe Aresimowicz |
| Successor 1 | Jason Rojas |
| State house 2 | Connecticut |
| District 2 | 1st |
| Term start 2 | January 5, 2011 |
| Predecessor 2 | Kenneth Green |
| Birth name | Matthew Delis Ritter |
| Birth date | May 12, 1983 (age 43) |
| Birth place | Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marilyn Katz |
| Education | Colby College (BA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
| Website | State House website |
| Parents | Thomas Ritter Christine Keller |
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]
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.
References
- ^ "Matt Ritter Biography | Connecticut House Democrats". www.housedems.ct.gov. Archived 2026-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ "Shipman & Goodwin LLP". Shipman Shipman & Goodwin LLP - Matthew D. Ritter. Archived 2026-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ "Ritter family of Hartford extends its influence in Connecticut legislature, courts". Hartford Courant. 2021-01-04. Archived 2026-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ Pazniokas, Mark (2018-04-06). "A more diverse judiciary, including a leader's brother-in-law". ctmirror.org. CT Mirror. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^ "Graduate Outcomes at Kingswood Oxford, a private day school". 2022-05-27. Archived 2026-02-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
- ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2010 Aug 10 :: Democratic Primary :: State Representative :: District 1". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
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