Dan Koh is an American politician and Democratic Party figure who won the 2026 Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 6th congressional district and is his party’s nominee in the general election. A veteran of city, state and federal government, he is best known for his years as the chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and for senior roles in the administration of President Joe Biden. A Harvard-educated son of Korean and Lebanese heritage, he previously served as an elected local official in his hometown and made an earlier bid for Congress. If he wins the general election, he would make history as the first Asian American to represent Massachusetts in Congress.
Dan Koh Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Daniel Arrigg Koh |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Andover, Massachusetts, United States |
| Heritage | Korean and Lebanese American |
| Profession | Politician, government official |
| 2026 Race | Democratic nominee, Massachusetts’ 6th district |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Education | Harvard College (BA); Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Former Roles | Chief of staff to Mayor Marty Walsh; Biden administration official |
| Spouse | Amy Sennett |
Dan Koh Details
| Area | Detail |
| Early career | An aide to Mayor Tom Menino; a Huffington Post executive |
| Boston City Hall | Chief of staff to Mayor Marty Walsh |
| Local office | An elected member of the Andover Select Board |
| Biden administration | A senior White House and Labor Department official |
| 2018 | Ran for Congress in the 3rd district |
| 2026 | Won the Democratic primary in the 6th district |
Dan Koh Events
| Year | Event |
| Early career | Worked for Boston Mayor Tom Menino |
| 2014 to 2017 | Chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh |
| 2018 | Ran in the 3rd district Democratic primary |
| 2019 | Elected to the Andover Select Board |
| 2021 | Joined the Biden administration |
| October 2025 | Announced his 2026 congressional campaign |
| September 2026 | Won the Democratic primary for the 6th district |
Dan Koh Early Life and Education
Dan Koh was born Daniel Arrigg Koh and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, in a family of Korean and Lebanese heritage. He pursued his higher education at Harvard, earning a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. It was at Harvard that he met his future wife, Amy Sennett, while he was pursuing his MBA. His education and his New England roots laid the foundation for a career that would take him through business, media and multiple levels of government.
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Dan Koh Early Career
Dan Koh began his career in public service and media, gaining experience across several high-profile roles. Early on he worked as an adviser to Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and he served as chief of staff to Arianna Huffington, the editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, gaining experience in the media world. These early positions, spanning politics and business, gave him a broad grounding and connected him to influential figures, setting the stage for his rise in the Boston government.
Dan Koh Government Career
Dan Koh as Chief of Staff in Boston
Dan Koh became a prominent figure in Boston city government when he served as chief of staff to Mayor Martin J. “Marty” Walsh. In this senior role he helped manage the operations of City Hall and played a central part in the administration’s initiatives, becoming a trusted top aide to the mayor. His tenure in Boston established his reputation as a capable and hardworking government executive, and his close relationship with Walsh was underscored when the mayor officiated at his 2016 wedding.
Dan Koh’s Local Office and 2018 Congressional Bid
Dan Koh entered electoral politics in his home region, and in 2019 he was elected to the Board of Selectmen, later known as the Select Board, in Andover, Massachusetts, topping the ballot as the highest vote-getter. Earlier, in 2018, he had run for Congress in Massachusetts’ 3rd congressional district, narrowly losing a crowded Democratic primary in one of the closest such contests in the state. These experiences deepened his engagement in Massachusetts politics and kept him a prominent figure in the state’s Democratic circles.
Dan Koh in the Biden Administration
Dan Koh moved to the federal level when he joined the administration of President Joe Biden, resigning from his local office in 2021 to do so. He served in senior roles, including as a deputy director in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and as chief of staff at the United States Department of Labor, working under his former Boston boss, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. His service in the Biden administration gave him high-level federal experience, which he would later cite as a qualification for a return to elected politics.
Dan Koh’s 2026 Congressional Campaign
Dan Koh launched a campaign for Massachusetts’ 6th congressional district in October 2025, seeking the seat left open when the incumbent, Seth Moulton, decided to run for the United States Senate. Competing in a crowded Democratic primary, Koh ran a well-funded campaign that emphasised opposition to the Trump administration, defending democracy, protecting rights and addressing the cost of living. On 1 September 2026 he won the Democratic primary with a plurality of about 41 percent, defeating his nearest rival, the state legislator Tram Nguyen, by nearly twelve points. He advanced to the general election, scheduled for 3 November 2026, against the Republican nominee, Micah Jones. As this concerns an active election, the profile presents his candidacy factually and neutrally.
Dan Koh’s Political Positions
Dan Koh is a Democrat who has campaigned on themes including affordability and the cost of living, defending democratic institutions, protecting rights, and opposing the policies of the Trump administration, drawing on his experience in federal government as a qualification. He has presented himself as a candidate ready to make an immediate difference in Washington. As a prominent nominee in a competitive general election, his positions and record attract both support and criticism, and the profile presents them factually and with attribution, without endorsement.
Dan Koh Personal Life
Dan Koh is married to Amy Sennett, a lawyer and law lecturer, whom he met at Harvard and married in 2016 in a ceremony at Boston City Hall officiated by Mayor Marty Walsh, followed by a religious ceremony. The couple have two children, a son and a daughter. Of Korean and Lebanese descent, Koh has spoken about his heritage and the historic nature of his candidacy. He has also been open about having ADHD. He has generally centered his public identity on his career in public service and his roots in Massachusetts.
Dan Koh Height and Physical Profile
Dan Koh’s public identity rests on his political and government career rather than on physical details, which are not a significant part of his public record. He is recognised publicly as a former government official and his party’s 2026 nominee for a Massachusetts congressional seat.
Dan Koh Net Worth and Earnings
A reliable, verified figure for Dan Koh’s net worth is not a significant part of the public record, and this profile does not put forward one. His income has come from his career in government and business, including his senior roles in city and federal government and his earlier work in the media and business sectors. As a candidate for federal office, his financial disclosures, required by law, remain the authoritative source on his finances.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented |
| Main income sources | His government and business career |
| Authoritative source | His official financial disclosures |
Dan Koh Social Media
Dan Koh maintains an active public presence through his campaign and official channels, which he uses for political communication, campaign updates and engagement with voters, and he also hosts a podcast.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| Campaign website | kohforcongress.com | Campaign information |
| Public information | News and political media | How news about him is reported |
Dan Koh Controversies and Debates
Dan Koh’s 2026 campaign drew the ordinary scrutiny of a competitive, high-profile primary, including attention to campaign tactics common in modern politics and debate over which candidates’ backgrounds best qualified them for Congress. His strong fundraising and prominent endorsements made him a front-runner, while opponents questioned aspects of his approach. These reflect the normal, if pointed, debate of a contested election rather than any established personal wrongdoing, and the profile presents the differing perspectives factually and with attribution, without taking a side.
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Lesser Known Facts About Dan Koh
- His full name is Daniel Arrigg Koh.
- He was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts.
- He is of Korean and Lebanese heritage.
- He earned degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Business School.
- He was chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
- He served in the Biden administration at the Labor Department.
- He won the Democratic primary for the 6th district in 2026.
Dan Koh FAQ
Who is Dan Koh?
He is an American politician and the Democratic nominee for Massachusetts’ 6th congressional district, and a former Boston City Hall and Biden administration official.
Is Dan Koh running for Congress?
Yes, he won the Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 6th district in September 2026 and is running in the November general election.
What did Dan Koh do before running for Congress?
He served as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, on the Andover Select Board, and in senior roles in the Biden administration.
Who did Dan Koh defeat in the primary?
He won the Democratic primary with about 41 percent, defeating his nearest rival, state legislator Tram Nguyen, by nearly twelve points.
Who is Dan Koh running against?
In the general election he faces the Republican nominee, Micah Jones.
Could Dan Koh make history?
Yes, if he wins the general election he would become the first Asian American to represent Massachusetts in Congress.
Where is Dan Koh from?
He was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts.
Where did Dan Koh study?
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Who is Dan Koh married to?
He is married to Amy Sennett, a lawyer and law lecturer, and the couple have two children.
What roles did Dan Koh hold in the Biden administration?
He served as a deputy director in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and as chief of staff at the Department of Labor.
Sources
The Boston Globe, Dan Koh, former White House official, emerges the winner from crowded Sixth District,
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/01/metro/mass-sixth-congress-district-democrat-primary/
GBH, Dan Koh wins primary for 6th congressional district to replace Seth Moulton,
https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2026-09-01/dan-koh-wins-primary-for-6th-congressional-district-to-replace-seth-moulton