Erika Uyterhoeven

Erika Uyterhoeven
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 27th Middlesex district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2021
Preceded byDenise Provost
Personal details
Born (1986-07-26) July 26, 1986
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Socialists of America
EducationWellesley College
University of Toulouse
Harvard Business School

Erika Uyterhoeven (/ˈaɪtərhoʊvən/;[1] born July 26, 1986) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 27th Middlesex district and a Massachusetts State Senate candidate for the 2nd Middlesex district.[2][3] Uyterhoeven is a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Prior to serving in elected office, Uyterhoeven was a political activist and antitrust economist.[4]

Early life and education

Uyterhoeven was born on July 26, 1986, to a single mother born in Japan.[5] Her mother was a union flight attendant, and Uyterhoeven has cited the rise of neoliberalism and the decline of the labor movement beginning in the 1980s as formative for her political development.[4] Her father was a professor at Harvard Business School.[6]

Uyterhoeven attended Wayland High School in Wayland, Massachusetts, graduating in 2004. She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 2010, and received a master’s degree from the University of Toulouse in 2014. In 2019, Uyterhoeven graduated with a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School.[7]

Political career

Massachusetts House

In 2020, Uyterhoeven ran to replace retiring incumbent Denise Provost as the member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 27th Middlesex district.[2] Running as a self-described democratic socialist, Uyterhoeven's successful campaign emphasized support for increased government transparency.[8]

She previously organized with Momentum, a socialist organization in the United Kingdom.[9] Uyterhoeven is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

Uyterhoeven ran successfully reelection in the 2022 election, after successfully winning the nomination against a primary challenger.[10] Her campaign literature cited endorsements from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Reproductive Equity Now, Massachusetts AFL-CIO, SEIU Local 509, Somerville Municipal Employees Assoc., United Auto Workers, IBEW 2222, Boston DSA, Massachusetts Sierra Club, Progressive Massachusetts, and LIUNA (Laborers International Union North America).[11]

In 2026, Uyterhoeven generated media attention from an social media post in which she said "We need to get ICE the f— out of Massachusetts" then proceeded to discuss issues such as including ending the Massachusetts Department of Correction's 287(g) agreement with ICE and ending the use of automatic license plate readers.[12]

Massachusetts Senate Candidacy

Uyterhoeven declared her candidacy for the Massachusetts Senate 2nd Middlesex in March 2026 after Patricia D. Jehlen announced her retirement.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Uyterhoeven, Erika (January 14, 2026). "We need get ICE out of Massachusetts. There are 3 key things we can do in Massachusetts to protect our neighbors from ICE". Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Doran, Chris Van Buskirk and Sam (February 25, 2021). "Massachusetts House Democrats' push for transparency attracts GOP support". masslive. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ Deehan, Mike (August 3, 2026). "Spill of the Hill: The state's most progressive district wants to push Beacon Hill further left". Axios Boston. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "DSA in Office: Interview with Erika Uyterhoeven". Working Mass. March 6, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ Filler, Katie Mai & Nicole (October 9, 2022). "Asian American Women Rising in the Massachusetts House and City Halls". Sampan. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus Hugo Uyterhoeven Dies at 86". Harvard Business School. February 1, 2018.
  7. ↑ Barrow, Joanna. "WHS Grad Erika Uyterhoeven fights for equity in the MA legislature". Wayland Student Press. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ Deehan, Mike (July 1, 2022). "Meet the Boston-area socialists in public office". Axios. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ ""Being Just 'Democrat' or 'Progressive' Means Nothing. It Provides No Direction."". jacobinmag.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  10. ↑ Field, Olivia (September 12, 2022). "Established Democrats defeat lesser-known challengers in Mass. primaries". The Tufts Daily. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ Erika Uyterhoeven Committee, "Erika Uyterhoeven, State Representative", 4.25" x 11" cardstock campaign literature with sticker "Contact Rep. Erika to..." covering " Vote September 6..." Verso "Leading on this Generations most pressing issues...".
  12. ↑ Cristantiello, Ross (January 16, 2026). "Somerville rep. follows Minneapolis mayor's lead in telling ICE to 'get the f— out'". Boston.com. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Three-term State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven announces candidacy for Second Middlesex State Senate". The Somerville Times. March 2, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
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