Biden-Harris favorite gets second shot at Congress, beats Squad-backed candidate
Dan Koh, a former Biden administration aide backed by both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, has won a crowded six-candidate Democratic primary in Massachusetts to succeed Rep. Seth Moulton in the state's 6th Congressional District. The seat is rated safely Democratic, giving Koh a clear path to Congress in November and marking a comeback after he narrowly lost a separate 2018 primary bid for a neighbouring district. The result highlights the establishment wing of the Democratic Party reasserting itself, in contrast with the progressive "Squad" faction.
Koh, who served as chief of staff to former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and later as a deputy assistant to the president, is campaigning on abolishing ICE and universal healthcare, and comes from a family with a history of federal service. He now advances to face Republican military veteran Micah Jones, who is unopposed in his own primary. The primary took place the same night Moulton lost his Senate bid to incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, whose campaign drew support from progressive figures including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
- Dan Koh wins crowded Massachusetts Democratic primary for Moulton's House seat
- Backed by Biden and Harris; district considered safely Democratic
- Faces Republican Micah Jones in November's general election
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of Koh's victory see it as a reassuring sign that voters in this district preferred a candidate with genuine governing experience and close ties to the current administration, someone who can hit the ground running and deliver for constituents rather than spend years building influence. They would argue that pragmatic, coalition-minded Democrats who can work within the party establishment are more likely to pass legislation and retain the seat long-term, and that primary voters are entitled to reward proven administrative competence over ideological branding, especially in a general election year where electability matters.
The case against
Those sympathetic to the Squad-backed challenger's loss would argue this result reflects the Democratic establishment's continued institutional advantages, in fundraising networks, name recognition from prior officials, and endorsements, rather than a genuine grassroots mandate, and that it risks sidelining the energy and policy ambition of younger, more diverse activists pushing for bolder change on issues like housing, healthcare and immigration. They would contend that safe seats like this one are precisely where the party should be nurturing insurgent talent rather than defaulting to well-connected alumni of past administrations, and that doing so narrows the range of voices shaping the party's future direction.