Matteo Ricci

Matteo Ricci (born 18 July 1974) is an Italian politician and former mayor of Pesaro. He began his career in the Democrats of the Left (DS). From 2009 to 2014, he was also the president of the province of Pesaro and Urbino with the Democratic Party (PD). After being elected mayor in 2014, he was re-elected in 2019.

Early life and education Ricci was born in Pesaro, in the Marche region of Central Italy. He graduated in political science at the University of Urbino.

Career Ricci began his political career in the DS. He then joined the PD and served as president of the province of Pesaro and Urbino from 2009 to 2014. He was elected mayor of Pesaro on 25 May 2014 in the first round, with 60 percent of the votes, and took office on 30 May 2014. In November 2014, Ricci was elected to the board of ANCI, of which he also became vice-president with responsibility for reforms.

Term-limited in 2024, Ricci ran for the European Parliament on the PD list in Central Italy constituency. He received 105 841 preference votes and was elected.

2025 Marche presidential campaign

Ricci is running in the 2025 regional election to become the President of Marche, leading the centre-left "Alleanza del Cambiamento", an alliance of 19 parties and civic lists, including the PD, M5S, Italia Viva, PRC, +Europa, Volt and Europa Verde.

Ricci conceded the race to Acquaroli by 8 points, while having support concentrated in northern Marche, particularly in Ancona and his hometown of Pesaro. In Southern Marche, he won in just 13 municipalities, including Grottammare and Monteprandone, both with populations over 10,000.

After the election, he chose not to take his seat in the regional council, and remained in the European Parliament.

Electoral history