Vote November 5thgeneral election
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 general election on Tuesday, November 5th
Erika is running for re-election for State Representative in Somerville (27th 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 November 5!
Click on the map for an interactive view of Erika’s district & polling places!
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.
Build thriving public schools: Secured equitable funding for pre-K and childcare grants, universal free community college, and over $54M for Somerville Public Schools.
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.
Endorsing Organizations
Endorsed by
Elected Officials
ED MARKEY
United States Senator for Massachusetts
“Erika is a tireless advocate for modern and reliable infrastructure. She secured funding to fix the T and fights for clean and renewable energy. I look forward to continue working with her to push for bold, transformative policies. I’m proud to endorse her for re-election.”
Ayanna Pressley
Congresswoman for the MA 7th
“Since she was first elected in 2020, Erika Uyterhoeven has been a leader in the State House of Representatives in support of safeguarding access to abortion and reproductive care, investing in transit and education. She is an organizer and coalition-builder who proudly and effectively brings the voices of the people she represents into the halls of Beacon Hill, and I’m proud to endorse her for re-election.”
Will Mbah
Somerville City Councilor At-Large
“Erika is deeply connected to the issues that many Somervillens face. She knows from personal experience what it is to be a person of color and immigrant in our community and is motivated to fight for equity for all residents of Somerville.”
Jake Wilson
Somerville City Councilor At-Large
“I've found Rep. Uyterhoeven to be extremely collaborative and have worked with her on numerous occasions. And the idea that she can't bring state resources to Somerville is easily disproven by her successful efforts to get organizing funds for the Community Action Agency put back in this year's state budget. This is just one recent example of her delivering not just for her district, but for the entire city.”
Willie Burnley Jr.
Somerville City Councilor At-Large
Ben Ewen-Campen
Somerville City Councilor (Ward 3)
“I'm excited to support Erika for State Representative because she understands in order for us to make progress on the important issues in Massachusetts like affordable housing, economic inequality, public education, and climate justice. We need to change "business as usual" at the State House. Erika's impressive background in both economics and organizing make her an effective legislator.”
JT Scott
Somerville City Councilor (Ward 2)
Jesse Clingan
Somerville City Councilor (Ward 4)
“Erika is putting forth a true progressive vision and agenda for Somerville. We need bold ideas and unwavering commitment to meet the unprecedented needs of our community. Erika is the leader we need and deserve.”
Sarah Phillips
Somerville School Committee Member (Ward 3)
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.”
Quinton Zondervan
Former Cambridge City Councilor
“Erika is a dedicated, longtime progressive activist and community organizer. I wholeheartedly endorse her for State Representative because we need more progressives in the State Legislature who will fight against corporate facism and fight for social justice, climate justice, and equity.”
State Elected Officials
Jack Patrick Lewis
State Representative (D-Framingham) and Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus
“We need more champions for progressive policies in the State House in order to move our communities and the Commonwealth forward. Erika's values, her knowledge of the State House, and her history of advocating for progressive policies makes her exactly the right person for the job. I am looking forward to partnering together to bring about the progressive change that our constituents are calling for.”
Jamie Eldridge
State Senator (D-Acton)
“If we want to reform qualified immunity or make a Massachusetts Green New Deal or Medicare for All a reality, we need progressive leaders in our legislature who know how to get things done. Erika is the clear progressive choice, and with her in the State House, we can bring real change to MA.”
Lindsay Sabadosa
State Representative (D-Northampton)
“In the face of rising income inequality and growing inequities exacerbated by COVID, we need a strong coalition of progressive voices at the State House to move the needle in the direction of the people. Erika knows the State House and is ready to champion the issues that will lead to real recovery. Her intelligence, passion, and courage will serve her district well and will allow her to meet the challenges of our times.”
Patrick Kearney
State Representative (D-Scituate)
“I’m proud to stand in solidarity with Erika and fully support her to be the next State Representative for the 27th Middlesex. Through Erika’s advocacy work, she is familiar with the legislative process and knows what needs to change to make our Commonwealth a better place. She is the clear choice to get things done for the people of Somerville during this pandemic, and will be a critical voice at the table as we navigate the recovery. I ask that you join me in supporting her.”
Jay Kaufman
Former State Representative for Lexington and former Chair of the Revenue Committee
“Erika has won the endorsement of all major statewide progressive organizations because of her effectiveness in advancing progressive causes and State House accountability. Those organizations know, as I do, that Erika won’t just be a reliable voice and vote, but a leader on the causes we care about.”
Erika’s work in the news
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 - Mar 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 - Jan 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 - Apr 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 - Apr 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 - Jan 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 - Jan 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 - Aug 20, 2020
Ben Ewen-Campen: Why I’m supporting Erika Uyterhoeven for state representative
Somerville Wicked Local - Jul 31, 2020
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund Endorses Erika Uyterhoeven for State Representative
Planned Parenthood press release - Aug 12, 2020
Somerville Councilor J.T. Scott on why he’s supporting Erika Uyterhoeven for state rep
Somerville Wicked Local - Aug 17, 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 on Beacon Hill
House Elections Bill – Voting in MA during the COVID-19 Crisis
CARES Act – What You Need to Know About the Largest Stimulus Bill in US History
Racial Equity in Public Education – Shifting our Frame from the Achievement Gap to the Opportunity Gap, with Charles FitzGibbon
The Need for Equitable State Stimulus, with Former Chair of Revenue Jay Kaufman
The People’s Bailout, Decarceration, and COVID-19, with Somerville City Councilor JT Scott
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