Peterson Heads Toward Rematch With McLaughlin in November

Bitter primary campaign sets stage for high-stakes general election in Illinois state representative race.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:42am

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Maria Peterson appears poised for a rematch against incumbent Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin in the race for Illinois' 52nd state representative district, after narrowly defeating her Democratic primary challenger Erin Chan Ding. The two candidates engaged in a contentious primary campaign marked by personal attacks and questions over campaign ethics.

Why it matters

This race is seen as a key battleground in the ongoing fight for control of the state legislature, with the district viewed as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats. Peterson's previous narrow loss to McLaughlin has left her open to questions about her electability, making this rematch an important test of her political viability.

The details

According to unofficial results, Peterson received 3,640 votes in the Democratic primary, while Chan Ding tallied 1,912 votes. The two candidates traded barbs throughout the campaign, with Peterson criticizing Chan Ding's school board record and Chan Ding highlighting Peterson's previous election losses. Now Peterson will shift her focus to unseating the incumbent McLaughlin in the general election, a race she narrowly lost by just 47 votes two years ago.

  • Ballots are still being counted in the Democratic primary, which was held on March 17, 2026.
  • The general election between Peterson and McLaughlin is scheduled for November 2026.

The players

Maria Peterson

A member of the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals, Peterson is the Democratic nominee for the 52nd state representative district.

Erin Chan Ding

Peterson's Democratic primary challenger, who serves on the Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board.

Martin McLaughlin

The incumbent Republican state representative for the 52nd district, who narrowly defeated Peterson in the 2024 election.

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What they’re saying

“When Maria Peterson runs, MAGA wins.”

— Erin Chan Ding, Democratic primary challenger

“Peterson called out Chan Ding's own school board's decision to accept an outside investigator's findings that she violated district policies by using school resources, property and social media for prohibited political campaign activities.”

— Maria Peterson, Democratic nominee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This race is a high-stakes battle for control of the state legislature, with the district seen as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats. Peterson's previous narrow loss has left her open to questions about her electability, making this rematch an important test of her political viability.