Matthew Ritter
Matthew Delis Ritter is an American attorney and politician. He currently serves as the Speaker of the Connecticut [House of Representatives] from the Connecticut's 1st [House of Representatives district|1st District]. Ritter is a member of the Democratic Party.
Personal life
Ritter was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His father Thomas D. Ritter is a lawyer, lobbyist, and politician who rose to be the Speaker of the House of the Connecticut House of Representatives, his mother Christine E. Keller is a Judge. He attended Kingswood Oxford School, Colby College, and the University of Connecticut School of Law, graduating in 2007.Business career
In 2007, Matthew Ritter took a job with Hartford law firm Shipman and Goodwin, LLP. He is a Partner specializing in public finance, municipal law and election law.Political career
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. 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.Ritter became the Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 2017 and became Speaker of the House in 2021.