Erika Uyterhoeven

Massachusetts politician

Erika Uyterhoeven


Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 27th Middlesex district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2021
Preceded by	Denise Provost

Personal details
Born	(1986-07-26) July 26, 1986 (age 37) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Democratic Socialists of America
Education	Wellesley College University of Toulouse Harvard Business School

Erika Uyterhoeven (born July 26, 1986) is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 27th Middlesex district.^[1] 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.^[2]

Early life and education

Uyterhoeven was born on July 26, 1986, to a single mother born in Japan.^[3] Her mother was a union flight attendant, and has cited the rise of neoliberalism and the decline of the labor movement beginning in the 1980s as formative for her political development.^[2]

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.^[4]

Political career

In 2020, Uyterhoeven ran to replace retiring incumbent Denise Provost as the member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 27th Middlesex district.^[1] Running as a self-described democratic socialist, Uyterhoeven's successful campaign emphasized support for increased government transparency.^[5]

She previously organized with Momentum, a socialist organization in the United Kingdom.^[6] 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.^[7] 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).^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b Doran, Chris Van Buskirk and Sam (February 25, 2021). "Massachusetts House Democrats' push for transparency attracts GOP support". masslive. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "DSA in Office: Interview with Erika Uyterhoeven". Working Mass. March 6, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ Filler, Katie Mai & Nicole (October 9, 2022). "Asian American Women Rising in the Massachusetts House and City Halls". Sampan. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ Barrow, Joanna. "WHS Grad Erika Uyterhoeven fights for equity in the MA legislature". Wayland Student Press. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ Deehan, Mike (July 1, 2022). "Meet the Boston-area socialists in public office". Axios. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ ""Being Just 'Democrat' or 'Progressive' Means Nothing. It Provides No Direction."". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
^ Field, Olivia (September 12, 2022). "Established Democrats defeat lesser-known challengers in Mass. primaries". The Tufts Daily. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^ 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...".