{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use American English|date=November 2022}} {{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)<br>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. Upon his election in 2022, he became the first Black openly gay person 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,<ref name=newhaven>{{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}}</ref> becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.<ref name=ctinsider/> He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2012.<ref name=newhaven/><ref>{{cite web|author=Empowering Attorneys |url=https://www.ctforme.com/post/95/four-questions-erick-russell |title=Four Questions with Erick Russell |publisher=CTforMe |accessdate=November 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{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 |publisher=Law.uconn.edu |date=February 4, 2021 |accessdate=November 12, 2022}}</ref> During law school, he interned for the general counsel to Governor Dannel Malloy and interned with the Connecticut Legal Rights Project.<ref name=ctinsider>{{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 }}</ref>
After graduating from law school, Russell joined the law firm Pullman & Comley, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he practiced public and private finance law and later became a partner.<ref name=newhaven/><ref name=yale>{{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}}</ref> He has served as chair of the LGBT section of the Connecticut Bar Association.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2009, Russell was elected vice chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party.<ref name=ctinsider/><ref name=stamford/> ==Connecticut State Treasurer== Russell was sworn into office on January 4, 2023, after winning the 2022 Connecticut State Treasurer election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/erick_russell_sworn_in |title=Russell Sworn in, Faces Baby Bonds Test |date=January 4, 2023}}</ref> ===Election results=== After Connecticut State Treasurer Shawn Wooden announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022, Russell declared his candidacy to succeed him.<ref name=stamford>{{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}}</ref> In the Democratic primary election held in August 2022, Russell defeated Dita Bhargava and Karen DuBois-Walton, receiving 58 percent of the vote.<ref>{{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 |publisher=Record-Journal Publishing Company |access-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822223745/https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/State/Erick-Russell-wins-three-way-Democratic-primary-for-CT-treasurer.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the November 2022 general election, Russell faced state representative Harry Arora, the Republican Party nominee. Russell won the election with approximately 52 percent of the vote.<ref>{{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 |publisher=Ctmirror.org |accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>
===Tenure=== As state treasurer, Russell is responsible for managing the state’s pension funds, trust funds, and cash and debt operations, and serves as a principal fiduciary for multiple state-administered investment programs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasurer's Biography |url=https://portal.ct.gov/ott/about-the-treasury/treasurers-biography |publisher=Connecticut Office of the Treasurer |accessdate=}}</ref> The Office of the Treasurer oversees tens of billions of dollars in state assets, including retirement funds for state employees and teachers.
In addition to the pension systems, the Office of the Treasurer administers and manages several state-run trust funds and investment programs. These include the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), the state’s 529 college savings program; the state’s ABLE program for individuals with disabilities; a state-supported child care endowment; and the Connecticut Safe Harbor Fund, among other investment and trust accounts administered by the office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasurer's Biography |url=https://portal.ct.gov/ott/about-the-treasury/treasurers-biography |publisher=Connecticut Office of the Treasurer |accessdate=}}</ref>
During his tenure, the Treasurer’s Office adopted changes to its pension fund investment strategy, including adjustments to asset allocation, increased use of active management, and changes to governance and oversight practices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here’s how state Treasurer Russell has reformed the state’s pension fund investment strategy |url=https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/heres-how-state-treasurer-russell-has-reformed-the-states-pension-fund-investment-strategy/ |publisher=Hartford Business Journal |accessdate=}}</ref>
In fiscal year 2025, Connecticut’s pension funds reported an investment return of 10.14 percent.<ref>{{cite web |title=State pension fund posts 10% return in FY25 but trails market gains |url=https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/state-pension-fund-posts-10-return-in-fy25-but-trails-market-gains/ |publisher=Hartford Business Journal |accessdate=}}</ref>
The Treasurer’s Office also oversaw the early retirement of a portion of the state’s transportation-related debt, a move state officials said would reduce long-term interest costs and debt service obligations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasurer Russell Announces Early Retirement of State Transportation Debt |url=https://portal.ct.gov/ott/newsroom/news/news-releases/treasurer-russell-announces-early-retirement-of-state-transportation-debt |publisher=Connecticut Office of the Treasurer |accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Connecticut’s transportation funds were reworked |url=https://ctmirror.org/2025/01/07/ct-transportation-funds-erick-russell/ |publisher=CT Mirror |accessdate=}}</ref>
During his tenure, Russell has overseen the implementation of the Connecticut Baby Bonds program, a state-administered trust fund providing publicly funded investment accounts for children born into low-income households. Connecticut was the first state in the nation to enact a baby bonds program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Connecticut launches Baby Bonds program |url=https://ctmirror.org/2023/07/01/connecticut-baby-bonds-launch/ |publisher=CT Mirror |accessdate=}}</ref>
==Personal life== Russell's husband, Christopher Lyddy, is a former member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://portal.ct.gov/ott Government website] * [https://www.erickforct.com/ Campaign website] {{CongLinks|votesmart=208522}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Shawn Wooden}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Connecticut State Treasurer|years=2022}} {{s-inc|recent}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Shawn Wooden}} {{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Connecticut |years=2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{U.S. State Treasurers}} {{Connecticut statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Erick}} Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:21st-century American politicians Category:Connecticut Democrats Category:Connecticut lawyers Category:American gay politicians Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ people from Connecticut Category:Living people Category:Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut Category:State treasurers of Connecticut Category:University of Connecticut School of Law alumni Category:University of New Haven alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Spouses of Connecticut politicians