Erik C. Peterson (born March 8, 1966) is an American Republican Party politician who represents the 23rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Peterson, who previously served on the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, replaced Assemblyman Michael J. Doherty, who was elected to the New Jersey Senate.

Recruited for the Accelerated Management Program at that company, he eventually ran the New Jersey operations of Beneficial's mortgage banking subsidiary.

Peterson was elected a Hunterdon County freeholder in 2005, running on a platform of fiscal conservatism, farmland preservation, and open government.

[4] Before being selected as Assemblyman in December 2009, Peterson ran in a special convention to replace Assemblywoman Marcia A. Karrow who had been appointed to the State Senate.

Incumbent DiMaio, Peterson, and Doherty's chief of staff, Edward Smith, ran for the Republican nomination to the Assembly seats.