Dan Koh (41), a Korean-American candidate, won the Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District on September 1. Born in 1985, Koh, a former Biden administration White House official, secured his spot in the general election after three attempts. The seat became vacant as incumbent Seth Moulton is running for the Senate. Given the district’s strong Democratic leanings, Koh is expected to win the November midterm election barring any surprises. The Democratic Party already counts several Korean-Americans among its ranks, including Senator Andy Kim, Representatives Marilyn Strickland, and Dave Min. On the Republican side, Representative Young Kim, the party’s sole Korean-American member, is seeking a fourth term.
Koh was born to a Korean-American father and a Lebanese-American mother. He is married to a European spouse and has two children. He graduated from Harvard University and its business school, later serving as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and as Deputy Assistant to the President in the Biden administration. He also worked at *The Huffington Post* and the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Koh previously ran for the House in 2018 and 2022 but lost. His primary victory this time marks a significant step toward Congress. In a December 2025 interview with Yonhap News, he stated, “If elected, I want to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance rather than take it for granted.” He also criticized the Georgia detention incident, calling it “an example used to demonize people of color.”
Koh uses “Ko” as his surname, following his father’s lineage from Jeju Island. His father, Howard Ko (Ko Kyung-joo), a Harvard School of Public Health professor, served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health in the Obama administration (2009–2014). His uncle, Harold Ko (Ko Hong-joo), was Yale Law School dean and legal advisor to the State Department under Obama. His grandfather, the late Dr. Ko Kanglim, served as a minister at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. His grandmother, Dr. Jeon Hye-seong, a Yale professor, gained fame for sending all six of her children to Yale or Harvard. Though Koh has no direct ties to South Korea, he has visited the country six to seven times.
Koh’s campaign highlighted his fundraising dominance, drawing attention for leveraging support from former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, his “former bosses.” This strategy stands out as Democratic leaders distance themselves from Biden and Harris following their 2024 election defeat. *Politico* noted, “Koh is likely to secure an overwhelming victory in November in this Democratic stronghold.” On social media, Koh recently criticized the Trump administration, stating, “Despite the government’s cruelty and budget cuts, it is still worth fighting for the ‘American Dream.’”
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