Erika Uyterhoeven Declares Victory in 2nd Middlesex District as Opponents Concede

State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven is headed to the state Senate to represent the 2nd Middlesex district after all three of her active opponents conceded before midnight on Tuesday.

Though the race has not been officially called, Uyterhoeven had secured 38 percent of the vote with 81 percent of the ballots counted by 10:38 p.m.

With no Republican challengers on the ballot, Uyterhoeven is poised to assume the seat left by incumbent state Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, who announced she would not seek reelection in December, after serving in the role for more than 20 years.

Uyterhoeven has represented part of Somerville since 2020, and launched her campaign for the senate in March, facing off against Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem, state Rep. Christine P. Barber, and Somerville City Councilor Matthew C. McLaughlin.

Uyterhoeven, among the State House’s most progressive members, helped lead the push for a rule requiring all committee votes to be made public, which took effect in June 2025. She has also repeatedly filed pro-union bills.

Azeem conceded the race shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday, calling Uyterhoeven to tell her that she was likely “going to be a winner.” Barber and McLaughlin both also confirmed that they conceded the race in statements to The Crimson.

McLaughlin wrote in a statement that while the night’s outcome was not what he hoped for, he remained thankful to those who had backed him on the campaign trail.

“The election ends today, but my commitment to advancing issues to help the working class will not stop here,” McLaughlin wrote.

Barber took the second largest share of the votes, losing to Uyterhoeven by 2,050 votes, according to the Associated Press. Azeem and McLaughlin received 15 and 14 percent of the vote, respectively. Winchester School Committee member Tom Hopcroft, who appeared on the ballot but withdrew his bid in late July, received one percent of the vote.

—Staff writer Theresa F. Bartelme can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at theresabartelme.15. Follow her on X @theresabartelme.

—Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at shawnb.18. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.

—Staff writer Abigail S. Gerstein can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at abbysg.97. Follow her on X @abbysgerstein.