Ellen Read

Ellen Read is a New Hampshire politician. She is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Career
On November 8, 2016, Read was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives where she represents the Rockingham 17 district. Read assumed office in 2016. Read is a Democrat. Read serves on the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee. Read endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. She is the founder of the New Hampshire Progressive Caucus.

In 2021, Read left the Democratic party to sit as an independent. She cited issues with Democratic Party leadership, specifically with alleged corruption by Representative Cathryn Harvey. In 2022, Read re-joined the Democratic Party.

Personal life
Read grew up the eldest of five in south Memphis, Tennessee. Read holds a master’s degree in liberal studies – environmental and socioeconomic ethics and policy from the UNH (2011), as well as a BS in molecular and cellular biology from Vanderbilt University (2003), with a double minor in religious studies and Japanese. She has worked as a high school teacher in Japan (2003-2006) as well as an adjunct professor of American government at Great Bay Community College. Read has resided in Newmarket, New Hampshire, since 2009.

Political positions
Read is considered a progressive representative.

Electoral reform
Read is an advocate for ranked choice voting. Read has repeatedly introduced bills to implement ranked choice voting in New Hampshire.