Erick Russell

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Erick Russell

|image = Erick Russell at ONeill Armory 2023 Cropped.png

|office = 84th Treasurer of Connecticut

|governor = Ned Lamont

|term_start = January 4, 2023

|term_end =

|predecessor = Shawn Wooden

|successor =

|birth_date =

|birth_place =

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = Christopher Lyddy

|education = University of New Haven (BA)
University of Connecticut (JD)

|signature=Erick Russell Signature.png}}

Erick Russell is an American politician from Connecticut. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the Connecticut State Treasurer. He is the first openly gay African American elected to a statewide office in the United States.

Early life and career

Russell grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where his parents owned a convenience store and deli. He graduated from the University of New Haven in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice,{{cite web|last=Chmiel |first=Renee |url=https://www.newhaven.edu/news/blog/2022/erick-russell.php |title=Alum Brings Passion for Service to Campaign for State Office - University of New Haven |publisher=Newhaven.edu |date=August 3, 2022 |accessdate=November 11, 2022}} becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. Russell earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2012.{{cite web|author=Empowering Attorneys |url=https://www.ctforme.com/post/95/four-questions-erick-russell |title=Four Questions with Erick Russell |publisher=CTforMe |date= |accessdate=November 12, 2022}}{{cite web|author=Gosavi, Prasad |url=https://law.uconn.edu/2021/02/04/erick-russell-12-recognized-in-connecticuts-40-under-40/ |title=Erick Russell '12 Recognized in Connecticut's 40 Under 40 | School of Law |publisher=Law.uconn.edu |date=February 4, 2021 |accessdate=November 12, 2022}} During law school, he interned for the general counsel to Governor Dannel Malloy.{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Catarevas |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticutmagazine/article/40-Under-40-The-Class-of-2021-17045858.php |title=40 Under 40: The Class of 2021 |publisher=Ctinsider.com |date=February 1, 2021 |accessdate=November 12, 2022 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127062730/https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticutmagazine/article/40-Under-40-The-Class-of-2021-17045858.php |url-status=dead }}

After graduating from law school, Russell joined law firm Pullman & Comley, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in their department on public and private financing, and became a partner in the firm.{{cite web|first=Sadie |last=Bograd |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/04/22/two-new-haveners-join-race-for-state-treasurer%EF%BF%BC/ |title=Two New Haveners join race for state treasurer |publisher=Yale Daily News |date=April 22, 2022 |accessdate=November 11, 2022}} He also chairs the LGBT section of the Connecticut Bar Association.{{cite web|url=https://westfaironline.com/fairfield/lt-gov-nancy-wyman-to-become-new-ct-dem-chair/ |title=Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman to become new CT Dem chair |publisher=Westfaironline.com |date=December 14, 2018 |accessdate=November 12, 2022}} In 2009, Russell was elected as a vice chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party.

Connecticut State Treasurer

After Connecticut State Treasurer Shawn Wooden announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2022 Connecticut State Treasurer election, Russell announced his candidacy to succeed him.{{cite web|author=Julia Bergman |url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Former-vice-chair-of-CT-Democratic-Party-runs-for-17081866.php |title=Former vice chair of CT Democratic Party runs for state treasurer |publisher=Stamfordadvocate.com |date=April 14, 2022 |accessdate=November 12, 2022}} He defeated Dita Bhargava and Karen DuBois-Walton in the Democratic Party primary election in August, receiving 58 percent of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/State/Erick-Russell-wins-three-way-Democratic-primary-for-CT-treasurer.html|title=Erick Russell wins three-way Democratic primary for CT treasurer|first=Record-Journal Publishing|last=Co|website=www.myrecordjournal.com}} In the November general election, Russell faced state representative Harry Arora, the Republican Party nominee. Russell won the election with 52 percent of the vote.{{cite web|last=Golvala |first=Katy |url=https://ctmirror.org/2022/11/09/ct-election-results-treasurer-erick-russell/ |title=Erick Russell wins CT treasurer election in historic win |publisher=Ctmirror.org |date=May 16, 2019 |accessdate=November 11, 2022}} Russell became the first openly gay African American elected to a statewide office in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhpr.org/2022-11-09/connecticuts-next-state-treasurer-could-make-history-for-the-lgbtq-community|title=Connecticut's next state treasurer makes history for LGBTQ community|date=November 9, 2022|website=New Hampshire Public Radio}}{{cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2022/11/09/erick-russell-first-black-gay-statewide-elected-official|title=Erick Russell Is First Black Gay Statewide Elected Official|date=November 9, 2022|website=www.advocate.com}} He was sworn into office on January 4, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/erick_russell_sworn_in | title=Russell Sworn in, Faces Baby Bonds Test | date=January 4, 2023 }}

Personal life

Russell's husband, Christopher Lyddy, is a former member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.{{cite web|url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/1045_am_russell_casts_ward_26s_113th_vote|title=10:45 AM: Russell Casts Ward 26's 113th Vote|website=New Haven Independent}}