SOMERVILLE, MA — State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven has won the Second Middlesex District seat in the Massachusetts Senate following an uncontested race.
The Somerville Democrat was the only candidate on the ballot in Tuesday's election and will succeed State Sen. Pat Jehlen, who announced last December that she would not seek reelection after two decades representing the district. Uyterhoeven secured the Democratic nomination in September after defeating State Rep. Christine Barber, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, Winchester resident Thomas Hopcroft and Somerville resident Matthew McLaughlin.
"Thank you to the voters of Somerville, Medford, Cambridge, and Winchester for sending me to represent you on Beacon Hill," Uyterhoeven said in a statement. "Words can't describe how thrilled and honored I feel to serve as your next State Senator. Thank you!" Uyterhoeven has represented the 27th Middlesex District in the House of Representatives since first being elected in 2020 and is completing her third term. Her House district is made up entirely of portions of Somerville.
Before entering politics, Uyterhoeven worked as an antitrust economist. She also co-founded Act on Mass, a statewide organization focused on legislative transparency. Her campaign has emphasized her work advocating for greater public access to legislative votes and deliberations on Beacon Hill.
During her Senate campaign, Uyterhoeven emphasized addressing housing affordability, protecting immigrant communities, supporting public education, expanding healthcare access and improving public transportation. Her platform included expanding permanently affordable housing, establishing universal childcare and pre-K, creating a state single-payer healthcare system and making MBTA service fare-free beginning with buses.
Her legislative work has included sponsoring proposals to apply the Open Meeting Law to the Legislature, prohibit evictions without good cause, establish a four-day workweek and increase educators' pay. She also jointly sponsored legislation addressing rental broker fees and public employees' right to strike. In Somerville, she sponsored or jointly sponsored home-rule petitions that would allow the city to establish a tenant opportunity to purchase program and a local real estate transfer fee. The proposed purchase program would give certain tenants and designated entities an opportunity to buy residential buildings when they are offered for sale.
Uyterhoeven's decision to run for Senate opened up her House seat, with Somerville Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen defeating educator and former State House aide Olivia Gilligan-Corsetti in the Democratic primary. Ewen-Campen was the only candidate listed for the seat on the general election ballot. Barber's Senate campaign also opened up her 34th Middlesex District House seat, which includes portions of Medford and Somerville. Former Somerville City Councilor Will Mbah secured that Democratic nomination over Christopher Oates and Paul Ruseau and was the only candidate listed for the seat in Tuesday's election.
Jehlen announced her retirement on Dec. 12, 2025, and said she would continue representing constituents throughout 2026.
The Second Middlesex District includes Somerville and Medford, Cambridge Ward 7 Precinct 1, Ward 8 Precinct 1 and Wards 10 and 11, along with Precincts 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Winchester.
Patch will update this post with specific poll numbers when they become available.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Somerville Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.