Challengers May Emerge Against Moulton
Dan Koh is exploring the opportunity to launch a campaign targeting Moulton.
TroibNews 
BOSTON — Local Democratic leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates quickly condemned Rep. Seth Moulton for his remarks regarding transgender youth in sports following the recent defeats experienced by Democrats.
The question now is whether this dissatisfaction will lead to genuine competition in the next election cycle. While it’s early, potential challengers are beginning to emerge.
Dan Koh, a former selectman from Andover, who narrowly lost the open seat in the neighboring 3rd District in 2018, has reportedly been making and receiving calls about a potential campaign against Moulton, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Koh previously served as chief of staff to former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He followed Walsh to Washington when President Joe Biden appointed Walsh to head the Labor Department, and he remained in Washington even after Walsh left the Cabinet to lead the NHL Players’ Association.
Currently, Koh holds the position of deputy director for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a role that may soon come to an end with Donald Trump's anticipated return to the White House. Despite his work in D.C., Koh still owns a home in Andover, which was incorporated into Moulton’s district following the 2021 redistricting. Koh did not respond to inquiries yesterday, but he is not the only name mentioned among potential challengers.
Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo sparked interest with a recent fundraiser in Boston, which was headlined by his former boss, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. This out-of-town event for the North Shore Democrat led to speculation about whether the first-term mayor might be positioning himself to run against Moulton in 2026.
Pangallo, however, has stated that he is not interested in a congressional campaign this cycle, saying, “I really enjoy the job I have now, and I think local government is the best way to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Moulton's office declined to comment.
The ongoing discussions indicate that the backlash against Moulton's comments has not yet subsided, as Democrats continue to grapple with divisions over the future direction of their party and the reasons behind their recent setbacks. This situation presents an opportunity for a potential challenger to capitalize on Moulton's latest controversial stance.
“I believe that he is vulnerable, and it’s not just because of the recent comments,” Democratic political consultant Doug Rubin noted to Playbook. “Challenging [former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi a while ago, the run for president — I think all of those things have the potential to rub voters the wrong way in his district and provide an opening for a candidate to make a credible campaign.”
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Allen M Lee for TROIB News
The question now is whether this dissatisfaction will lead to genuine competition in the next election cycle. While it’s early, potential challengers are beginning to emerge.
Dan Koh, a former selectman from Andover, who narrowly lost the open seat in the neighboring 3rd District in 2018, has reportedly been making and receiving calls about a potential campaign against Moulton, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Koh previously served as chief of staff to former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He followed Walsh to Washington when President Joe Biden appointed Walsh to head the Labor Department, and he remained in Washington even after Walsh left the Cabinet to lead the NHL Players’ Association.
Currently, Koh holds the position of deputy director for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, a role that may soon come to an end with Donald Trump's anticipated return to the White House. Despite his work in D.C., Koh still owns a home in Andover, which was incorporated into Moulton’s district following the 2021 redistricting. Koh did not respond to inquiries yesterday, but he is not the only name mentioned among potential challengers.
Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo sparked interest with a recent fundraiser in Boston, which was headlined by his former boss, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. This out-of-town event for the North Shore Democrat led to speculation about whether the first-term mayor might be positioning himself to run against Moulton in 2026.
Pangallo, however, has stated that he is not interested in a congressional campaign this cycle, saying, “I really enjoy the job I have now, and I think local government is the best way to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Moulton's office declined to comment.
The ongoing discussions indicate that the backlash against Moulton's comments has not yet subsided, as Democrats continue to grapple with divisions over the future direction of their party and the reasons behind their recent setbacks. This situation presents an opportunity for a potential challenger to capitalize on Moulton's latest controversial stance.
“I believe that he is vulnerable, and it’s not just because of the recent comments,” Democratic political consultant Doug Rubin noted to Playbook. “Challenging [former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi a while ago, the run for president — I think all of those things have the potential to rub voters the wrong way in his district and provide an opening for a candidate to make a credible campaign.”
If you find this content engaging, consider subscribing to PMG’s Massachusetts Playbook newsletter.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
