Vote September 1stDemocratic Primary
Meet Erika
Erika is a daughter of immigrants, a former antitrust economist, and a fierce believer that together we have the power to build a transparent and accountable government that works for all of us.
Erika has won unprecedented investments for fixing the T, funding public education, and repairing infrastructure. When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, she acted swiftly with her colleagues to protect and expand access to abortions. She has the courage to fight and the experience to deliver results.
Vote for Erika in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 1st
Erika is running for election for State Senator to represent all of Medford, and Somerville, and parts of Cambridge and Winchester (Second Middlesex District). Are you registered to vote in Erika’s district? Check your voter registration status below to confirm you can vote for Erika on September 1!
Erika delivers results
Reproductive justice and LGBTQIA+ rights: Expanded access to abortion, contraception, IVF, and gender affirming care. Voted to fully fund abortion care and expanding telehealth and medical abortions.
Keep our neighbors in Somerville: Invested $6B in new housing construction and advocated for building and establishing permanently affordable housing. Protected funding for tenant organizing and affordable housing in Somerville.
Invest in a safe and reliable MBTA: increased investment in the MBTA by $383M by taxing the rich. Advocated for and successfully hired over 1,500 frontline employees, filling vacant positions.
End forced broker’s fees: Championed legislation to end predatory broker fees that burden renters with thousands more in upfront costs. Fought to shift this financial responsibility off tenants, making housing access more equitable and affordable.
Build thriving public schools: Secured equitable funding for pre-K and childcare grants, universal free community college, and over $54M for Somerville Public Schools.
Increase transparency and accountability: Passed major reforms to open the State House to the public by publishing committee votes online, livestreaming hearings, and requiring public posting of bill texts and amendments before votes..
Fight for healthcare for all: Held for-profit health insurance and healthcare companies accountable for rising costs and poor quality of care.
Combat the climate crisis: Passed two sweeping climate laws to invest in renewable energy and create clean energy jobs.
Secured millions of dollar for affordable housing: Championed the Yes on 6 ballot measure to double Community Preservation Act funding in Somerville, investing more in affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation by raising the CPA surcharge from 1.5 % to 3 %, with built-in exemptions for low-income homeowners.
Endorsing Organizations
Endorsed by
Elected Officials
JT Scott
Somerville City Councilor (Ward 2)
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Cambridge City Council
“Erika knows the State House through her work fighting for greater transparency in state government. She brings the movement-building that we need to fight for tenant protetctions, like rent control, better public transit, and climate justice.”
Jon Link
Somerville City Councilor (At Large)
Erika in the news
Somerville state representative posts video saying, ‘We need to get ICE the [expletive] out of Massachusetts’
The Boston Globe - January 16, 2026
"A Somerville state representative took to social media this week to demand that ICE get “the [expletive] out of Massachusetts” and called on state officials to reject all collaboration with the federal immigration enforcement agency amid its nationwide crackdown.
“We need to get ICE the [expletive] out of Massachusetts,” Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, a Democrat who has been endorsed by the Boston chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, said in a video posted to her Instagram and Facebook accounts Monday."
Somerville Public Schools’ Jennifer Ochoa honored at Massachusetts State House by Black & Latino Legislative Caucus
The Somerville Times - October 7, 2025
"Somerville Public Schools (SPS) celebrates Jennifer Ochoa, Basic Needs & Housing Support Social Worker at the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative, who was recently honored as a leader in the Latino community by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
Ms. Ochoa was among those honored at the Latino Excellence on the Hill event at the Massachusetts State House on September 25, a celebration of the transformational work of Latinos throughout Massachusetts. She was nominated by Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven of the 27th Middlesex district for her work serving the public school system, as well as her dedication to the Somerville Museum. "
I wrote this piece from prison. Why shouldn’t I vote from here too?
The Boston Globe - August 6, 2025
"On the days leading up to this past April 1, I was nervous. I was intimidated. But I also felt empowered. I had the opportunity to offer testimony before the Joint Committee on Election Laws in the Massachusetts Legislature about voting restoration bills filed by Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Erika Uyterhoeven. I spoke remotely before the lawmakers, calling in from MCI-Norfolk, where I am incarcerated.
Seventeen years ago, my family and I voted for Barack Obama, America’s first Black president. Back then, I had a say and a stake in democracy. All these years later, I had the opportunity to use my voice once again — this time to represent communities behind the wall."
Business groups oppose ban on 'captive audience' meetings
The Daily News of Newburyport - July 26, 2025
"The proposal, filed by state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-Somerville, would prohibit mandatory “captive audience” gatherings by public and private employers and allow workers to file lawsuits if they are fired or disciplined for reporting or speaking out about any violations of the proposed rules.
Backers of the proposal say the changes are needed to prevent employers from requiring attendance at meetings where they might be pressured to adopt certain viewpoints, often related to unionization efforts."
Effort underway in Massachusetts to reinstate voting rights of incarcerated felons
Fall River Reporter - July 9, 2025
"Debate about reversing the constitutional amendment has swirled around Beacon Hill in recent years. In 2023, the Election Laws Committee favorably recommended a constitutional amendment from Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and Sen. Liz Miranda. The amendment died after it was not considered at a Constitutional Convention during the 2023-2024 term. The Senate President, Karen Spilka, presides at conventions.
The Election Laws Committee heard testimony from incarcerated individuals who support the same proposal, refiled for the current term, at an April 1 hearing but took no action on whether to recommend or oppose the measure.
The Uyterhoeven-Miranda proposal was a legislative amendment to the constitution. Such proposals do not require signature-collecting, but need to secure 101 votes during a Constitutional Convention to advance."
Inmate advocates say Framingham MA women's prison must address this privacy issue
The MetroWest Daily News - July 7, 2025
"State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-Somerville, told the Daily News she has met with women who are incarcerated at MCI-Framingham to discuss the issues. Uyterhoeven said the shower curtains are the tip of the iceberg, as more accountability is needed within the state's prison system.
'Apart from raising it to the DOC, I think part of the issue is that there needs to be a lot more accountability on the prison system," Utyerhoeven said. "The inhumanity and the disrespect and the lack of dignity toward women, and just people incarcerated in general, it's unending.'"
They wanted Harvard to pay more in taxes. But not like this.
The Boston Globe - May 2, 2025
"Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, of Somerville, since 2021 has pushed a bill that would let cities enforce minimum PILOT payments at 25 percent of what the tax bills for large nonprofits, including universities, would be if their properties were taxable. The cities could then allow exemptions if organizations paid into community benefits such as athletic fields.
Is it odd to see homegrown progressive policy ideas echoed, in a way, by the Trump administration, albeit for very different reasons? Yes, Uyterhoeven said. But her idea, she said, is about maximizing benefits to communities where colleges are located; the president’s is about maximizing harm."
Local leaders heighten calls for release of Rümeysa Öztürk
The Tufts Daily - April 17, 2025
"On April 3, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, State Sen. Patricia Jehlen, three state representatives and all members of the Somerville City Council released a statement calling for Öztürk’s release and the upholding of constitutional freedoms.
Based on what we know and there being no criminal violations, we call for the immediate release of Rümeysa Öztürk and the restoration of her student visa, not only so that she may return to her studies and contribute to our communities but so that we as a great country can honor our democratic systems, protect our liberty, and uphold the law,” the statement read."
‘We Don’t Want to Repeat History’: State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Discusses Activist Fred Korematsu, Öztürk, and Trump
Sampan - April 11, 2025
"That dark chapter of U.S. history is close to Uyterhoeven, a Japanese American who’s advocated around the legacy of activist Fred Korematsu.
His story needs to be told and taught in history books, because we don’t want to repeat history,” she said of Korematsu, who was arrested for defying his incarceration in the 1940s. “At like 20-something-years old, he effectively stood up to his government … and said, ‘I’m not gonna go; I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m a law-abiding American citizen. I’m staying here,’” said Uyterhoeven."
Tisch College holds annual symposium on restorative justice, higher education
The Tufts Daily - April 7, 2025
"State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven also attended the symposium. She shared that on Tuesday, following the symposium, the state legislature held its first hearing on a constitutional amendment restoring the right to vote for all incarcerated people.
During one of the panels, Tufts undergraduate students who participated in the program as teaching assistants and program assistants shared their personal connections to TUPIT."
Democratic state legislatures nationwide have started to take on Trump. What about Massachusetts?
The Boston Globe - March 30, 2025
"People are hungry for leadership right now … we need to be matching their fight and matching their energy,“ said state Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, a Somerville Democrat.
We just have to think ahead. As much as there’s a lot of uncertainty around what’s happening in the White House, we understand their playbook now,” Uyterhoeven added, pointing to Project 2025, the conservative policy blueprint for Trump’s second term. “How we get ahead of that as a state is so critical because even though these things aren’t in the headlines yet, they’re going to be."
Over 2,000 protest in wake of student detainment
The Tufts Daily - March 27, 2025
"Local officials including Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Massachusetts Reps. Erika Uyterhoeven and Mike Connolly and Medford City Council President Zac Bears were present at the rally.
It was important for, I think me, and everyone here today to stand up for her,” Uyterhoeven said, “And I think we also know it’s incumbent upon us to fight to get her back. Every day, hour, minute that she is in detention is a minute too long."
Massachusetts leaders demand answers after Tufts student detained by ICE
WCVB Boston - March 26, 2025
"She had spoken up for Palestinian lives and Palestinian dignity, so the idea she could be detained, speak out, and lose one's right to free speech, that is unprecedented," said state Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, who represents Somerville."
Bill Introduced To Significantly Increase MA Teachers' Salaries
Patch - January 22, 2025
"The "Act Relative To Educator Pay" bill was petitioned by Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Middlesex), and it would also guarantee a minimum of $55,000 salaries for "education support professionals." This includes cafeteria workers, bus drivers, classroom assistants and janitorial staff. The state would also reimburse costs incurred from higher salaries."
Korematsu’s Daughter Says Battle for Justice Now More Relevant Than Ever
Sampan - December 6, 2024
"Twelve years later, the state of California passed the Fred Korematsu Day bill, making Jan. 30 the first day in the U.S. named after an Asian American – an effort making its way to other states including Massachusetts, as House Bill No. 3119, presented by state lawmakers Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Steven Ultrino and Rep. Lydia Edwards."
the migrant crisis and our need for more affordable housing
NBC @Issue Interview - August 11, 2024
"We want to get people long term housing, but that draws back to this bigger issue that everyone in very familiar with, which is that people are spending 50, 60, 70 percent of their income on housing costs. There's this dire need and while I am very proud of the Housing Bond Bill that we just passed, that the Governor just signed into law, we need to do a lot more than that in terms of ensuring we have the afforable housing available."
Advocates say Massachusetts prison system is setting inmates up to fail
WBZ News, Investigative Unit - March 4, 2024
"We are one of the most expensive prison systems in the country," State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven said. "Currently there are only 113 individuals that are in a higher degree education program. That's out of over 6,000 incarcerated people. That is across the board shameful numbers for a department that costs taxpayers $800 million a year."
After Reforms to Solitary Confinement, Massachusetts Prisoners Say Officials Just Renamed It
Victoria Law, Bolts Magazine - March 29, 2024
“Is putting someone in a deeply traumatizing environment really going to help them when they are released? There are other ways that we could be helping address those underlying issues that led to why they were punished in the first place. But we’re not addressing any of that by throwing people in solitary confinement,” Uyterhoeven said.
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven has proposed a bill that would legalize strikes for public employees after six months of good faith negotiations
NBC 10 Boston - January 24, 2024
Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-Somerville, has proposed a bill that would legalize strikes for public employees after six months of good faith negotiations. Uyterhoeven told NBC10 Boston it would cut down on stalling tactics and "ensure these strikes become less and less frequent."
Should Massachusetts allow municipalities to require nonprofits to make payments in lieu of taxes?
Boston Globe - April 7, 2023
Elite universities, private schools, and hospitals — many with multibillion-dollar endowments ― need to pay their fair share to the communities they call home. Currently, through their nonprofit status, they are exempt from property taxes. This allowance has created tax shelters for these institutions’ insatiable wealth accumulation.
Trials show 4-day weeks benefit workers and employers. A Massachusetts bill would put it to the test
GBH News - April 28, 2023
Studies in Massachusetts and across the globe show that a 4-day work week dramatically increases well-being of workers without lowering productivity. It's time to make the 4-day work week the norm.
Senator Markey joins Somerville launch of Fair Share Ballot Campaign
Somerville Times - May 18, 2022
Senator Markey and the Somerville Fair Share team join hundreds of activists in several communities across the state who support the proposed state tax on annual incomes above $1 million that will appear on the November 2022 statewide ballot.
How does Massachusetts stack up when it comes to voting rights?
WGBH Talking Politics - January 21, 2022
Talking Politics takes a closer look at the status of voting reforms in Massachusetts after the Legislature let popular mail-in and expanded early voting provisions expire.
Five new lawmakers to watch on Beacon Hill
Boston Globe - January 20, 2021
“Ensuring that advocates, communities, and organizations have a voice is one of the many things that we as reps have a big responsibility to ensure happens,” she said. “It’s something I’ve been reflecting a lot on, how to do it," said Uyterhoeven. Uyterhoeven is a former “antitrust” economist at Compass Lexecon, and, as an Asian-American, one of the growing number of women of color in the Legislature.
Erika Uyterhoeven receives endorsements from every labor union and progressive advocacy organization based in MA that has endorsed in the 27th Middlesex race
Press release - August 20, 2020
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund Endorses Erika Uyterhoeven for State Representative
##### Planned Parenthood press release - August 12, 2020
MEET ERIKA UYTERHOEVEN: ACTIVIST AND ECONOMIST RUNNING FOR SOMERVILLE STATE REP
Somerville Wicked Local - March 13, 2020
“Her platform is rather straightforward: Uyterhoeven plans to advocate for an accessible, transparent government that ensures every voice is heard on key issues like worker’s rights, housing justice, climate action, public education, and immigration reform.”
Erika Uyterhoeven Declares Candidacy for 27th Middlesex State Representative
The Somerville Times - February 3, 2020
“The Massachusetts House of Representatives prioritizes business interests over passing popular progressive legislation. I am running to enact a Massachusetts Green New Deal, fully fund our public schools and public transportation, and guarantee affordable housing for all. To do this, businesses and the wealthy must pay their fair share, and I’ll make sure they do,” Uyterhoeven said.
Short videos on what’s happening in and around Beacon Hill
Right to strike bill
We need to restore our right to strike!
Right now the law and court fines are weaponized to give management an unfair advantage in contract bargaining for public sector workers. Our bill includes a provision that the union must engage in six months of negotiations before a legal strike can take place. This will discourage unethical stonewalling tactics by management and six months is a very reasonable time frame to negotiate a three year contract. It is clear that a level playing field and good faith negotiations by both parties will prevent last resort measures like going on strike.
Check out the history of 58 strikes by MTA local affiliates here: schoolstrikehistory.org
Stop CSOs!
Did you know when our storm water system gets overloaded, our current infrastructure floods tens of millions of gallons of POOP WATER 💩 into our river, streets, trails and parks????
Get rent control on the ballot!
Make sure to get your signature in to help us get rent control on the ballot for the 2026 November midterm elections!
The median rent in the greater Boston area is $3,939!!! And the average Boston renter spends almost HALF of their income on rent alone.
By submitting your signature, you're ensuring that we have the opportunity to vote on rent control that will limit annual rent increases to cost of living with a cap of 5%.
Educator pay bill
Did you know that paras in Somerville were only getting paid $20,000 / year until 2020? Paras (or Education Support Professionals, ESPs) work with students with disabilities and special needs. Their work is vital to ensuring equity in our schools and yet they are often severely underpaid for their labor.
That’s why we are so proud that Somerville Educators Union negotiated a contract paying paras a starting salary of $50,000 / year. They won this, higher salaries for teachers, paid parental leave and other massive wins by bargaining for the common good and deeply engaging our community.
But our work isn’t done. Paras across the state are still paid horribly underpaid wages and deserve better. That’s why I filed H.733 / S.370 with Rep. Hong and Sen. Gomez to set the minimum salary at $55,000 / year for paras and $70,000 / year for teachers.
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