Former President Joe Biden has endorsed Dan Koh in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District, an open seat currently held by Rep. Seth Moulton, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Koh, who served in various roles during the Biden administration, released a video of his endorsement call with the former president. In the recording, Biden told Koh: "You will be one heck of a congressman," before adding: "everything you and I fought for, everything we did to help ordinary people is in jeopardy now in this administration, so we gotta get ya elected."
Koh called the endorsement an honor. He previously ran for the seat in 2018 but lost the Democratic primary by a razor-thin margin.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also endorsed Koh last year, according to reports.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican critics have characterized Biden's primary endorsement as an attempt by a former president to exert influence over his party's direction and block new voices from emerging. They argue that continued reliance on figures from the previous administration signals Democratic resistance to accepting electoral outcomes.
Some conservative commentators have pointed to Biden's quote about policy priorities being "in jeopardy" as evidence that Democrats view the Trump administration's agenda as fundamentally threatening, rather than as legitimate governance by an opposing party.
Others in Republican circles note that Koh's previous primary loss despite significant name recognition raises questions about his electability. They argue that establishment endorsements do not guarantee voter support and may even galvanize opposition from voters who prefer outsider candidates.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic supporters of Biden's endorsement argue that Koh's experience working within the administration makes him uniquely qualified to continue the policy priorities they say benefit everyday Americans. They point to his tenure in various White House roles as evidence he understands how to navigate federal governance.
Progressive groups aligned with the Democratic Party have largely welcomed the former president's involvement, saying it signals continued commitment to the economic and social policies advanced during the previous administration. Some argue that maintaining continuity in Congress is essential given what they describe as aggressive rollbacks of existing protections under the current White House.
Democratic strategists note that Biden's recent endorsements, including his backing of Keisha Lance Bottoms for Georgia governor, suggest a broader effort to elevate administration alumni who can carry forward specific policy agendas into legislative roles. Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor before joining the Biden administration.
What the Numbers Show
Koh lost the 2018 Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District by approximately 985 votes, or less than two percentage points, to Rep. Lori Trahan after a recount. He received significant backing from the political establishment at that time as well.
The 6th Congressional District has been held by Moulton since 2015. The Cook Political Report rates the seat as solidly Democratic based on historical voting patterns.
Biden's approval rating stood at approximately 37 percent in final polling during his presidency, though his personal favorability among Democrats remains higher than his job performance numbers suggested during the 2024 campaign cycle.
The Bottom Line
The primary election will determine which Democrat represents the party in a district that has not elected a Republican in recent cycles. Koh's experience within the Biden administration could prove either an asset or liability depending on how voters view the previous administration's record.
The race is developing as Moulton's Senate campaign creates openings for multiple Democratic candidates. Other contenders are expected to contest the endorsement's impact, arguing that primary voters should evaluate candidates on their own merits rather than party endorsements.
Early voting and fundraising totals in the coming weeks will provide clearer indicators of Koh's standing against any other high-profile challengers who may enter the race.