The Ballot Brief
McHenry County, Illinois

Illinois House District 52

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 52 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Maria Peterson and Martin McLaughlin. Candidate information follows official McHenry County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Maria Peterson (Democratic), Martin McLaughlin (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Martin McLaughlin is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 17 primary (plurality, no runoffs); independent and new-party candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' 2026 General Election candidate list (status Active, read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Martin McLaughlin, is on the ballot.

Illinois › McHenry County › Illinois House District 52

Maria Peterson

Maria Peterson

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Lowering costs for working families
  • Expanding affordable housing
  • Gun violence prevention and community safety

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Maria Peterson is the Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 52 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified candidate list. Peterson is a former attorney and community advocate who serves as Vice Chair of the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals, per her campaign site. She previously ran for the Illinois Senate in 2022 and challenged incumbent Rep. Martin McLaughlin for this seat in 2024, per the Daily Herald. She is running against McLaughlin again in the 52nd District.

Martin McLaughlin

Martin McLaughlin

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Martin McLaughlin is the incumbent Illinois House member for the 52nd District, representing Lake Barrington, per his official representative website. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Next on your ballotIllinois House District 63

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Illinois House District 52 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Illinois House District 52 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Maria Peterson and Martin McLaughlin. Candidate information follows official McHenry County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Illinois House District 52 election in Illinois?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact McHenry County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official McHenry County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full McHenry County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your McHenry County ballot

23 tracked races in McHenry County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Illinois House District 64Illinois House District 66Illinois House District 69See all 23 McHenry County races
Candidate profiles
Maria Peterson, full profileMartin McLaughlin, full profileOfficial Illinois election office