Democratic nominee Dan Koh is making affordability and constituent service central to his campaign for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District, arguing that Congress must lower household costs while providing a stronger check on President Donald Trump’s administration.

Koh, an Andover native and former Biden administration official, will face Republican Micah Quinney Jones of Essex in the Nov. 3 general election. The candidates are seeking the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who ran for the U.S. Senate.

Koh won the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 1 primary after defeating several candidates, including state Rep. Tram Nguyen and former state Sen. Jamie Belsito. Jones secured the Republican nomination without opposition.

Having narrowly lost a 2018 congressional race, Koh said he is not taking the general election for granted.

“I know personally what it’s like to lose by a close margin,” Koh said. “I don’t want to be in a situation where we take anything for granted.”

Koh said the costs of raising a family, maintaining a home, and preparing for retirement have left many residents looking for a clearer economic agenda from Democrats.

His proposals include limiting child care costs to $10 per day for families earning less than $200,000, expanding the child tax credit, making primary care free, and limiting utility and housing expenses as a percentage of household income.

Koh supports raising the federal corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% to help pay for the programs and reduce the federal deficit. The corporate tax rate was lowered from 35% to 21% under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

“If you ask the average American what Democrats are doing to lower your costs, they’re going to tell you, ‘I have no idea,’” Koh said. “There is a very clear contrasting choice. We just don’t talk about it in the ways that we should.”

Koh also wants Congress to strengthen Social Security by collecting additional payroll taxes on income above $400,000. The program’s trustees have projected that its combined trust funds will be depleted in the early 2030s without congressional action, after which incoming revenue would cover only a portion of scheduled benefits.

Koh said the threat of reduced benefits is particularly concerning for seniors already contending with higher housing, grocery, and utility costs.

In addition to promoting an economic agenda, Koh said a Democratic-controlled Congress must exercise greater oversight of Trump and his administration. He criticized the administration’s handling of health policy, immigration, and federal research funding while arguing that Congress has failed to assert its authority as a coequal branch of government.

Koh acknowledged, however, that opposition to Trump alone is not enough to rebuild confidence in the Democratic Party.

“It’s not just about Trump,” Koh said. “It’s about how we actually put forward an agenda that people can get excited about.”

Koh pointed to his experience in federal, municipal, and local government as preparation for the position. During the Biden administration, he served in senior White House roles and as chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Labor. He previously served as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and as a member of the Andover Select Board.

Koh said Walsh taught him that public officials must remain accessible and help residents navigate government, even when an issue does not fall entirely within their jurisdiction.

“The average person does not really differentiate, nor should they, between what’s a federal issue, a state issue and a local issue,” Koh said. “For too long, I think there’s a game that’s been played among elected officials of passing the buck until people give up.”

If elected, Koh said he would spend as much time as possible in the district when the House is not voting. He said attending community events and speaking directly with residents would help inform his decisions in Washington.

On regional transportation, Koh supports increased federal investment in commuter rail electrification and infrastructure that could encourage housing and economic development in Lynn and surrounding communities.

Asked about the proposed Lynnway multimodal corridor, Koh said he wants to review more of the project’s traffic and safety data. He said federal officials should work with local and state leaders to resolve disagreements rather than dictate which projects communities should pursue.

“If we have reliable transportation service to Lynn and reliable infrastructure, that unlocks economic opportunity not just for Lynn but for the entire region,” Koh said.

Koh was born and raised in Andover and is the son of immigrants from Korea and Lebanon. He earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Harvard University and has held executive positions in the private sector. He and his wife, Amy Sennett, have two young children.

Koh said he would bring the approach he learned in municipal government to Congress, combining national policy work with attention to constituent concerns.

“This district deserves somebody who is going to be grinding every day,” Koh said, “and picking up every phone call.”

The post A conversation with Dan Koh appeared first on Itemlive.

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