Matthew Ritter, of Hartford, assumed office in 2011. 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.

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 nominating Ritter for a third term as speaker in 2025.

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 is a partner in the Hartford law firm of Shipman and Goodwin.

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 and was succeed by Tom Ritter.