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Connecticut, State House, District 1

Connecticut House of Representatives District 1
Current incumbentMatthew Ritter Democratic Party

Connecticut’s first state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Matthew Ritter.

Connecticut state legislators represent an average of 23,670 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 22,553 residents.

About the office

Members of the Connecticut House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Connecticut legislators assume office the Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next succeeding their election.

Qualifications

Article III, Section 4 of the Connecticut Constitution states: "The house of representatives shall consist of not less than one hundred twenty-five and not more than two hundred twenty-five members, each of whom shall be an elector residing in the assembly district from which he is elected. Each assembly district shall be contiguous as to territory and shall elect no more than one representative. For the purpose of forming assembly districts no town shall be divided except for the purpose of forming assembly districts wholly within the town."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$28,000/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happened. All special elections must be held no later than 46 days after a governor's declaration. If the vacancy happened with less than 125 days left before the general election, the special election must be held on the same day as the general election. No election can be called by the governor if the vacancy happened with less than 49 days left before the general election.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is June 9, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1

Incumbent Matthew Ritter (D) won election in the general election for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Matthew Ritter (D)
100
4,419

Total votes: 4,419
Democratic primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

Republican primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

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.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png 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 Green check mark transparent.png 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 Green check mark transparent.png 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.

Connecticut House of Representatives District 1, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew Ritter Incumbent 91.6% 3,566
Republican Kenneth Lerman 8.4% 328
Total Votes 3,894

2012

Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2012. A total of 151 seats were up for election in 2012. Incumbent Matthew Ritter defeated Kenneth Leman (R) in the general election. The candidates ran without opposition in the August 14 primary elections.

Connecticut House of Representatives, District 1, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew D. Ritter Incumbent 93.6% 6,038
Republican Kenneth B. Lerman 6.4% 413
Total Votes 6,451

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Connecticut House of Representatives District 1 raised a total of $293,725. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $24,477 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Connecticut House of Representatives District 1

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $37,215 2 $18,608
2014 $34,770 2 $17,385
2012 $35,767 1 $35,767
2010 $87,320 2 $43,660
2006 $1,200 1 $1,200
2004 $1,100 1 $1,100
2002 $89,986 2 $44,993
2000 $6,367 1 $6,367
Total $293,725 12 $24,477