Education
Merrill graduated from the University of Connecticut.
Merrill graduated from the University of Connecticut.
Merrill was first elected to office in 1994 and served as the House Majority 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 2005-2008. In the she represented Fifty-Fourth Assembly District, which includes the towns of Mansfield and Chaplin.
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.
She went on to defeat Republican candidate Jerry Farrell Junior. on November 2. Merrill is also a classically trained pianist.
Merrill was previously a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.