Democrats Believe They'll Flip Suburban 52nd House Seat After 2024 Close Call
Democratic candidate for State Representative, Maria Peterson, speaks with supporters at a Democratic rally in Barrington Saturday afternoon. (Photo: The Illinoize)
She lost to Rep. Martin McLaughlin by 47 votes in 2026. Retired attorney Maria Peterson of North Barrington is back for a rematch Tuesday, and believes she’s in a position to win.
Democrats have spent heavily in the district, including an infusion of $1 million for broadcast TV ads in the final two weeks of the campaign.
Rallying with volunteers Saturday afternoon in suburban Barrington, Peterson told The Illinoize the feeling is different in the final days of the campaign this year.
“We’ve done the work. People know who I am since 2022 (when she first ran for Senate). They know how close I came in that (20240 race,” she said. The fact that I’m persistent, tenacious, committed to my community, they’re finally get[ting] on board.”
Democrats have spent millions attacking McLaughlin for his ties to right wing figures, while Republicans have painted Peterson as an extremist who is too progressive for the moderate suburban district.
Peterson said attacks on her are a misdirection from McLaughlin’s conservative ties.
“I’m not the one supporting the extreme president and speaking on behalf of Lara Trump, standing behind [former DHS Secretary] Kristi Noem, who was conducting the ICE raids, taking photos with the MyPillow guy (far right activist Mike Lindell), who was claiming election fraud,” Peterson said. “I’m standing with the people who are trying to lift people up, ensuring that we have a good public education running on a platform of restructuring our property tax system because our property taxes are one of the highest in the country.”
McLaughlin has railed against Democratic tax policies for years, including high gasoline taxes. He called for pausing the 6.25% sales tax on gas. Peterson defended the state’s gas taxes.
“That’s why our roads are good and that’s why we have good infrastructure here in Illinois. We are the center of the country. People expect our roads to be in good condition,” she said. “If we were to pause the gas tax, the only thing that’s gonna happen is its gonna cost taxpayers more money because with the cost of everything going up, then they’re gonna pay one way or another.”
She also defended state spending that has increased from $39 billion when Gov. Pritzker took office to just under $60 billion this year.
“We’re not spending frivolously. We’re spending judiciously,” she said. “We have to make sure families are fed. It’s government’s responsibility to take care of people where they can’t finish taking care of themselves. We’re not giving handouts, which the Republicans like to say. We’re not giving handouts out. People have to fill out their their documents as to why they need help, and that’s where government’s responsibilities to come into play.”
Kamala Harris won the district by six points in 2024. Governor Pritzker won it by seven in 2022. But, Peterson isn’t getting too confident as the final days of the campaign tick down and says, she’s staying focused.
“Another day to knock on doors and meet people,” she said
House Republicans did not make McLaughlin available Saturday. He did not respond to messages from The Illinoize.
