DeeDee Ritchie (born September 22, 1953) is an American politician from Pensacola, Florida.^[1]

Ritchie was born on September 22, 1953, in Leesville, Louisiana. In 1975 she graduated from Auburn University, and in 1979 she graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a masters in education. During her time in college she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She has a career in education and won Florida Teacher of the year award in 1990, and was inducted into the Florida Teaching hall of fame in 1998.^[2][1] DeeDee was married to congressman Buzz Ritchie for 5 years, but they were separated and on the way to divorce when DeeDee ran for office.^[3]

Ritchie's political career started in 1998 when she ran to fill the seat left by her estranged husband Buzz Ritchie retiring.^[3] She ran in the primary with an endorsement from her ex-husband, and would beat John Wyche.^[4] In the general election she would beat Paul Young by almost 10%.^[5]

In 2000 she would run for the 1st district of the Florida Senate. During the election she was called out by her opponent Durell Peaden for running negative and misleading advertising.^[6] In the general election Ritchie ended up losing to Peaden by over 15%.^[7]

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