The Connecticut House of Representatives is the

lower house A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, where the other chamber is the upper house. Although styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise e ...

in the

Connecticut General Assembly The Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. The ...

, the

state legislature A state legislature is a Legislature, legislative branch or body of a State (country subdivision), political subdivision in a Federalism, federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no

term limits A term limit is a legal restriction on the number of Term of office, terms a Incumbent, person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in Presidential system, presidential and Semi-presidential republic, semi-president ...

. The House convenes within the

Connecticut State Capitol The Connecticut State Capitol is located north of Capitol Avenue and south of Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. The building houses the Connecticut General Assembly; the upper house, the Connecticut Sen ...

Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

History

The House of Representatives has its basis in the earliest incarnation of the General Assembly, the "General Corte" established in 1636 whose membership was divided between six generally elected magistrates (the predecessor of the Connecticut Senate) and three-member "committees" representing each of the three towns of the

Connecticut Colony The Connecticut Colony, originally known as the Connecticut River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became the state of Connecticut. It was organized on March 3, 1636, as a settlement for a Puritans, Puritan congregation o ...

(

, Wethersfield, and

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places *Detroit–Windsor, Michigan-Ontario, USA-Canada, North America; a cross-border metropolitan region Australia New South Wales *Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area Queen ...

). The

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on . The fundamental orders describe the government set up by the Connecticut River New England town, towns, setting its structure and powers and was a driven attempt for the ...

, adopted in 1639, replaced the committees with deputies; each town would elect three or four deputies for six-month terms. Although the magistrates and deputies sat together, they voted separately and in 1645 it was decreed that a measure had to have the approval of both groups in order to pass. The Charter of 1662 reduced the number of deputies per town to no more than two, and also changed the title of the legislature to the General Assembly. It was in 1698 that the General Assembly divided itself into its current bicameral form, with the twelve assistants (that replaced the magistrates) as the Council (which became the Senate in the 1818 constitution) and the deputies as the House of Representatives, which began electing the Speaker to preside over it. The terms of representatives were raised to two years in 1884.''Under the Gold Dome: An Insider's Look at the Connecticut Legislature'', by Judge Robert Satter. New Haven: Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, 2004, pp. 16–27.

Leadership of the House

The

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hung ...

presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House resolution. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also its chief leadership position and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. Other House leaders, such as the

majority A majority is more than half of a total; however, the term is commonly used with other meanings, as explained in the "#Related terms, Related terms" section below. It is a subset of a Set (mathematics), set consisting of more than half of the se ...

and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber. The current Speaker is

Matthew Ritter Matthew Delis Ritter (born May 12, 1983) is an American attorney and politician. He currently serves as the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives for the Democratic Party and the 1st District. Personal life Ritter was born in Hart ...

of the 1st House District the includes part of Hartford. The Majority Leader is

Jason Rojas Jason Rojas (born 1976) is an American politician who is a five term Democratic member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, serving since 2008. He represents parts of East Hartford and Manchester, composing Connecticut's 9th assembly dis ...

of the 9th House District which includes part of

East Hartford East Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,045 at the 2020 census. The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, directly across from Hartford. It is home to aerospace manufactu ...

and part of

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

. The Minority Leader is Republican

Vincent Candelora Vincent J. Candelora is an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. Candelora is the Connecticut State House of Representatives, State Representative for the 86th House District and also serves as the Republican Minority Leader in the Connect ...

of the 86th House District that includes part of

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city in north east England **County Durham, a ceremonial county which includes Durham *Durham, North Carolina, a city in North Carolina, United States Durham may also refer to: Places ...

, part of East Haven, part of Guilford, and North Branford.

Composition of the House of Representatives

List of current members

Current members of the Connecticut House of Representatives, as of April 25, 2025.

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Notable former House members

1700s

Jonathan Trumbull Jonathan Trumbull Sr. (October 12, 1710August 17, 1785) was an American politician and statesman who served as Governor of Connecticut during the American Revolution. Trumbull and Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island were the only men to serve as go ...

, Governor of Connecticut Colony, Governor of Connecticut *

Roger Sherman Roger Sherman (April 19, 1721 – July 23, 1793) was an early American politician, lawyer, and a Founding Father of the United States. He is the only person to sign all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, ...

, First Mayor of

New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...

, Constitutional Signatory, United States Congressman, United States Senator * Jonathan Trumbull Jr. Aide-de-camp to General Washington, Congressman, US Senator, 20th Governor of Connecticut *

Jeremiah Wadsworth Jeremiah Wadsworth (July 12, 1743 – April 30, 1804) was an American sea captain, merchant, and statesman from Hartford, Connecticut who profited from his position as a government official charged with supplying the Continental Army. He re ...

, Congressman, Constitutional Convention Member * John Davenport (Connecticut politician), Continental Army Officer, Congressman

1800s

Gideon Tomlinson Gideon Tomlinson (December 31, 1780 – October 8, 1854) was a United States senator, United States Representative, and the 25th Governor for the state of Connecticut. Biography Born in Stratford, Tomlinson completed preparatory studies and ...

, Congressman, US Senator, 25th Governor of Connecticut *

Noah Webster Noah Webster (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843) was an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education" ...

, Dictionary author and educator * Henry W. Edwards, Congressman, US Senator, 27th and 29th Governor of Connecticut * Samuel A. Foot, Congressman, US Senator, 28th Governor of Connecticut *

Isaac Toucey Isaac Toucey (November 15, 1792July 30, 1869) was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, U.S. Attorney General and the 33rd Governor of Connecticut. Biography Born in Newtown, Connecticut, Toucey p ...

, Congressman, US Senator, United States Attorney General, Secretary of the Navy, 33rd Governor of Connecticut * William W. Eaton, Congressman and US Senator * Marcus H. Holcomb, Connecticut Attorney General, 66th Governor of Connecticut *

Henry C. Deming Henry Champion Deming (May 23, 1815 – October 8, 1872) was a politician and writer who served as United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Connecticut, the mayor Hartford, the acting military mayor of New Orleans, and a ...

, Congressman, Mayor of

, Commander of the 12th Connecticut Infantry Regiment * John T. Wait, Congressman * William E. Simonds, Congressman, Patent Commissioner,

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient *

Augustus Brandegee Augustus Brandegee (July 12, 1828 – November 10, 1904) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut. Early life Brandegee was born in New London, Connecticut. He was the son ...

Congressman, Mayor of New London * John Q. Tilson, Congressman *

E. Stevens Henry Edward Stevens Henry (February 10, 1836 – October 10, 1921) was an American businessman and politician from Connecticut who served as a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, United S ...

, Connecticut State Treasurer, Congressman *

P.T. Barnum Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding with James Anthony Bailey the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He w ...

, showman, politician, and businessman known for the

Barnum and Bailey Circus The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, also known as the Ringling Bros. Circus, Ringling Bros., the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Barnum & Bailey, or simply Ringling, is an American traveling circus company billed as The Greatest Show on Earth ...

. * Charles Phelps, lawyer, state legislator, Connecticut Secretary of State, and first Attorney General of Connecticut

1900s

* Marcus H. Holcomb, Attorney General of Connecticut, 66th Governor of Connecticut * Everett J. Lake, 67th Governor of Connecticut * Raymond E. Baldwin, Congressman, United States Senator, 72nd and 74th Governor of Connecticut, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Court of Errors, Chair of the 1965 Constitutional Convention *

Emily Sophie Brown Emily Sophie Brown (1881–1985) was an American politician who in 1920 became one of the first five women elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. Brown subsequently served as a New Haven County commissioner from 1922 to 1927. She wa ...

, one of the first women to be elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives *

Abraham A. Ribicoff Abraham Alexander Ribicoff (April 9, 1910 – February 22, 1998) was an American politician from the state of Connecticut. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives and Senate ...

, 80th Governor of Connecticut, United States Senator,

United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is ...

John N. Dempsey John Noel Dempsey (January 3, 1915 – July 16, 1989) was an American politician who was the 81st Governor of Connecticut. He was a Democrat, and began his political career at the age of 21 serving on the Putnam City Council. He later served a ...

, 81st Governor of Connecticut * William R. Ratchford, Congressman *

Stewart McKinney (politician) Stewart Brett McKinney (January 30, 1931 – May 7, 1987) was an American politician of the Republican Party who represented Connecticut's 4th congressional district in the House of Representatives from 1971 until his death. He is perhaps b ...

, Congressman *

Sam Gejdenson Samuel Gejdenson (born May 20, 1948) is a former United States Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Connecticut. Early life and education Born in a displaced persons camp in Eschwege, Allied-occupied Germany, Gejdenson was th ...

, Congressman *

Ronald A. Sarasin Ronald Arthur Sarasin (December 31, 1934 – March 27, 2023) was an American lawyer, Navy veteran, and politician from Connecticut. He served two terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives and three terms as a United States House of Repre ...

, Congressman *

Ella T. Grasso Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Grasso (née Tambussi; May 10, 1919 – February 5, 1981) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 83rd governor of Connecticut from January 8, 1975, to December 31, 1980, after r ...

, 83rd Governor of Connecticut * Barbara B. Kennelly, Congresswoman * William O'Neill, 84th Governor of Connecticut *

Lowell P. Weicker Jr. Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. (; May 16, 1931 – June 28, 2023) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the 85th Governor of Connecticut. Weicker unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for presi ...

, Congressman, US Senator, 85th Governor of Connecticut *

, Congressman *

John G. Rowland John Grosvenor Rowland (born May 24, 1957) is an American former politician, author, and radio host who served as the 86th governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004. Rowland served three terms representing Connecticut's 5th congressional distri ...

, 86th Governor of Connecticut *

Gary Franks Gary Alvin Franks (born February 9, 1953) is an American politician who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut for six years, from 1991 until 1997. He is the first African-American elected to the U.S. Congress from Co ...

, Congressman *

Christopher Shays Christopher Hunter Shays (born October 18, 1945) is an American politician. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives as representative of the 4th District of Connecticut from 1987 to 2009. He is a member of the Repub ...

, Congressman *

Susan Bysiewicz Susan Bysiewicz ( ; born September 29, 1961) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 109th lieutenant governor of Connecticut since 2019. She previously served as the 72nd secretary of the state of Connecticut from 1999 to 2 ...

, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. *

George Jepsen George Christian Jepsen
December 17, 1989, ''The New York Times'' (born N ...

, Connecticut Attorney General and Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party.

2000s

Rob Simmons Robert Ruhl Simmons (born February 11, 1943) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army colonel who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007, representing Connecticut's 2nd congressional district as ...

, Congressman *

Jodi Rell Mary Carolyn Rell (née Reavis; June 16, 1946 – November 20, 2024), known as M. Jodi Rell, was an American politician who served as the 87th governor of Connecticut from 2004 to 2011. Rell also had served as the state's 105th lieutenant gove ...

, 87th Governor of Connecticut * Joe Courtney, Congressman *

Richard Blumenthal Richard Blumenthal ( ; born February 13, 1946) is an American politician, lawyer, and United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps veteran serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from ...

, Connecticut Attorney General and US Senator *

Chris Murphy Christopher Scott Murphy (born August 3, 1973) is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the junior United States senator from the state of Connecticut since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the U ...

, Congressman and US Senator

2010s

Elizabeth Esty Elizabeth Esty (née Henderson; born August 25, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from from 2013 to 2019. A Democrat, she previously was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, represe ...

, Congresswoman. * Denise Merrill, Connecticut Secretary of State. *

William Tong William Morten Tong (, born May 2, 1973) is an American lawyer and progressive politician who is the 25th and current Attorney General of Connecticut. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Tong attended Brown University and the University of Chicago L ...

, Connecticut Attorney General

2020s

* Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of State. * Sean Scanlon, Connecticut State Controller.

References

External links

Connecticut House of Representatives

Connecticut House Districts Map

District search by address
{{Authority control Organizations established in 1698

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

State lower houses in the United States 1698 establishments in Connecticut Government agencies established in the 1690s Legislatures of the Thirteen Colonies

History

Leadership of the House

List of current members

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Notable former House members

1700s

1800s

1900s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

References

External links