Edward Ritter

Edward Ritter is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 47 in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1] An engineer by profession, he said in a Ballotpedia survey that he worked as an engineer for forty-one years.[2]

Edward Ritter was born in York, graduated from Dover Area High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1978.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said his work as an engineer and project manager included designing and starting up new operations in China, England, India, Indonesia and the Netherlands.[2]

Ritter said he was a Republican for about forty years, then registered as an Independent and later as a Democrat after speaking with York County Democratic leaders.[2] He advanced from the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.[1] His stated pledges include forfeiting his salary for each day the state budget is late, refusing gifts, serving no more than three terms and donating half his legislative salary to charity.[2] He said the state should make up for reduced federal spending on social programs to keep residents housed, healthy and fed, and that he supports Death with Dignity legislation.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.