Matthew Ritter
Matthew Ritter (Democratic Party) is a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing District 1. He assumed office in 2011. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
House Democrats unanimously elected Ritter as speaker of the state House in 2020. He began serving in the role at the start of the 2021 legislative session. In this role, Ritter controls when the House votes on legislation and assigns other representatives to committees.[1]
Ritter won election to the House in 2010 with 91% of the vote in the general election after defeating 15-year incumbent Kenneth P. Green (D) in the primary election by two votes. In the six elections from 2012 to 2022, Ritter's average margin of victory was 92%. He faced no Republican opposition in the three elections from 2018 to 2022.
In 2023, House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R) said of Ritter: "I have served with Speakers who are less inclusive and respectful of the minority party than Speaker Ritter has been. I think he takes on the role of mediator lots of times. I think he prides himself on being able to get bipartisan support on legislation." Candelora gave the speech seconding Ritter's nomination to another term as speaker in 2022.[2]
Before serving in the legislature, Ritter was a member of the Hartford City Council, where he chaired the Legislative Affairs and Planning and Economic Development Committees. He also worked as an attorney.
Ritter is the son of former Speaker Tom Ritter (D) and current Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Christine E. Keller (senior status). Matthew's grandfather, George Ritter, served in the legislature from 1969 to 1981, when Tom Ritter ran for and won George's seat.[3]
In 2020, Ritter participated in a Candidate Conversation hosted by Ballotpedia and EnCiv. Click here to view the recording.
Biography
Ritter earned his B.A. in Government from Colby College in 2004 and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2007. His professional experience includes working as an attorney.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Ritter was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Management Committee, Co-Chair
2023-2024
Ritter was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Management Committee, Co-Chair
2021-2022
Ritter was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Management Committee, Co-Chair
2019-2020
Ritter was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Management Committee, Vice Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Legislative Management, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ritter served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Planning and Development |
| • Public Health, Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ritter served on the following committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Judiciary |
| • Planning and Development |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ritter served on these committees:
| Connecticut committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Executive and Legislative Nominations |
| • Planning and Development |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1
Incumbent Matthew Ritter won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Matthew Ritter (D) | 100.0 | 4,961 |
| Total votes: 4,961 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Matthew Ritter advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ritter in this election.
2022
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1
Incumbent Matthew Ritter won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Matthew Ritter (D) | 100.0 | 3,061 |
| Total votes: 3,061 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Matthew Ritter advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1.
2020
See also: Connecticut House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1
Incumbent Matthew Ritter defeated Mark Stewart Greenstein and Daniel Piper in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Matthew Ritter (D) | 91.8 | 5,193 |
 | Mark Stewart Greenstein (Epic Party) | 5.1 | 290 | |
 | Daniel Piper (Socialist Resurgence Party) | 3.1 | 176 | |
| Total votes: 5,659 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Matthew Ritter advanced from the Democratic primary for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1.
2018
General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1
Incumbent Matthew Ritter won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Matthew Ritter (D) | 100.0 | 4,419 |
| Total votes: 4,419 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 7, 2016.
Incumbent Matthew Ritter defeated Ken Lerman in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 general election.[4]
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Matthew Ritter Incumbent |
92.05% | 5,662 | |
| Republican | Ken Lerman | 7.95% | 489 | |
| Total Votes | 6,151 | |||
| Source: Connecticut Secretary of the State | ||||
Incumbent Matthew Ritter ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 Democratic primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Ken Lerman ran unopposed in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 Republican primary.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Ken Lerman (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014. Incumbent Matthew Ritter was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Kenneth Lerman was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ritter defeated Lerman in the general election.[5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew Ritter Incumbent |
91.6% | 3,566 | |
| Republican | Kenneth Lerman | 8.4% | 328 | |
| Total Votes | 3,894 | |||
2012
Ritter ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1. Ritter ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2012. He defeated Kenneth Leman (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Matthew D. Ritter Incumbent |
93.6% | 6,038 | |
| Republican | Kenneth B. Lerman | 6.4% | 413 | |
| Total Votes | 6,451 | |||
2010
Ritter faced incumbent Kenneth P. Green in the August 10 primary. He then defeated Republican Kenneth Lermon in the general election.
| Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Matthew Ritter (D)
|
4,628 | |||
| Kenneth Lermon (R) | 398 | |||
| Emanuel Lorenzo Blake (Ind) | 56 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew Ritter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Matthew Ritter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Candidate Conversations
Moderated by journalist and political commentator Greta Van Susteren, Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A.
Click below to watch the conversation for this race.
Matthew Ritter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2025.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut Citizens Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2024.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2023.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut Business & Industry Association — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Connecticut Citizen Action Group — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Family Institute of Connecticut — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2021.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2020.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2019.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Yankee Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to limiting taxes and encouraging free market activity.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2018.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2017.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2016.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2015.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2014.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
In 2013, the Connecticut General Assembly was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Connecticut General Assembly in 2012.
- Connecticut AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Connecticut League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Yankee Institute — Each member of the Connecticut General Assembly receives a score from 0 to 10 based on how he or she voted on ten votes.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ritter has a wife, Marilyn Katz.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Leaders of the House of Representatives," accessed September 14, 2023
- ↑ Colby News, "Connecticut House Speaker Seeks, and Finds, the Middle Ground," March 6, 2023
- ↑ Hartford Courant, "Ritter family of Hartford extends its influence in Connecticut legislature, courts," January 4, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Election Night Reporting, 2016 General Election," accessed December 14, 2016
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Official primary and general election results," accessed November 26, 2014
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Candidate list," accessed June 19, 2012
- ↑ CBS Connecticut, "2012 Primary Results," August 14, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 21, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 2011-Present |
Succeeded by - |
