Denise Merrill
73rdSecretary of the State of Connecticut
In office January 5, 2011 – June 30, 2022
Governor	Dan Malloy Ned Lamont
Preceded by	Susan Bysiewicz
Succeeded by	Mark Kohler
Majority Leader of theConnecticut House of Representatives
In office January 7, 2009 – January 5, 2011
Preceded by	Christopher Donovan
Succeeded by	Brendan Sharkey
Member of theConnecticut House of Representatives from the54th district
In office November 10, 1993 – January 5, 2011
Preceded by	Jonathan Pelto
Succeeded by	Gregory Haddad
Personal details
Born	(1948-10-08)October 8, 1948 (age 77) San Mateo,California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Connecticut (BA) Alliant International University, San Francisco
Website	Government website

Denise W. Merrill (born October 8, 1948) is an American politician who most recently served as theConnecticut Secretary of the State from 2011 to 2022.^[1] A member of theDemocratic Party, Merrill was previously a member of theConnecticut House of Representatives.

Merrill graduated from theUniversity of Connecticut.^[2] She attended but did not graduate from theSan Francisco Law School, now merged withAlliant International University, and was admitted to theState Bar of California.^[3]

Merrill was first elected to office in 1993 in a special election^[4][5] and served as the HouseMajority Leader after being elected to that position prior to the 2009 legislative session and until becoming Secretary of the State. Previously, Merrill had served as the House Chair on the Appropriations Committee from 2005 to 2008. In the State House she representedFifty-Fourth Assembly District, which includes the towns ofMansfield andChaplin.

Following the state Democratic primary held on August 10, 2010, Merrill became her party's nominee for Secretary of the State for the November 2010 election.^[6] She went on to defeat Republican candidateJerry Farrell Jr. on November 2. As a serving Secretary of State, she is a part of theNational Association of Secretaries of State and was also elected its president for the 2016–2017 term.^[2]

On June 23, 2021, she announced her intent not to seek re-election in 2022.^[7]

On June 28, 2022, Merrill announced her resignation effective June 30, in order to spend more time caring for her ailing husband.^[8]

She currently serves on the Board of Advisors ofLet America Vote, an organization founded by formerMissouri Secretary of StateJason Kander that aims to endvoter suppression.^[9]

Merrill is also a classically trained pianist. She has three grown children and five grandchildren.

*Merrill was also nominated on A Connecticut Party line.

*Merrill was also listed on the Working Families Party line.

*Merrill was also listed on the Working Families Party line.

*Merrill was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Lumaj was also listed on the Independent Party line.

*Merrill was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Chapman was also listed on the Independent Party line.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toDenise Merrill.

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• Living people
• Democratic Party members of the Connecticut House of Representatives
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