In the increasingly competitive Sixth Congressional District primary to replace Seth Moulton, one candidate is working to claim an early milestone: getting on the ballot.
Dan Koh, a former Biden administration official and aide to former Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, is the first candidate in the race to gather enough certified signatures to qualify for the ballot, a key organizational test in any campaign.
Koh’s team confirmed they had surpassed the 2,000 certified signatures required for a congressional bid and were preparing to formally submit them to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office on March 27 at 8:45 a.m.
Under Massachusetts election law, candidates must collect 2,000 valid signatures from registered voters across their district, each verified by local officials, before they can appear on the ballot. Koh’s campaign met that threshold, and did so with geographic breadth. The campaign gathered signatures from all 39 cities and towns in the district, an early indicator of both reach and organization.
“I’m incredibly humbled by all the volunteers who came out from all across the district,” Koh said. “Union members, people who are fired up to take on this President and fight for our democracy… and just people who are looking to really get involved in their communities.”
He emphasized that the effort reflected the full scope of the district: “This campaign really is about all 39 cities and towns… the residents who really want to get involved and step up.”
Being first to qualify for the ballot offers both practical and political advantages. It signals a campaign’s ability to mobilize supporters quickly, manage logistics across multiple communities, and avoid last-minute uncertainty — all while freeing up time and resources to focus on voter outreach rather than administrative hurdles.
In a race where many candidates share similar policy positions, including tackling housing costs, expanding access to health care, and opposing President Donald Trump, early demonstrations of campaign strength can help shape perceptions.
Koh has already built a profile as one of the frontrunners, bolstered by strong fundraising and backing from national Democrats, including Kamala Harris. But the signature milestone adds a different dimension: proof of on-the-ground infrastructure.
The campaign is also emphasizing the nature of that support. Koh noted that donations have come from every city and town in the district, with a median contribution of $50.
“We’re just very, very grateful that our support has been grassroots, and we pride ourselves in that,” he said, adding that the campaign has “donations from all 39 cities and towns” and “over 60 endorsements now.”
Koh said the organizing effort is tied directly to trust with voters.
“For us, it’s about building faith and building trust with all of the voters in the district, and not taking anything for granted,” he said.
“I will work every single day… to prove the faith that everyone has so far in me,” he said. “I will be humble, and I will work diligently… not just to say that, but to show people every day.”
With ballot access being secured ahead of his rivals, Koh’s campaign is now positioned to shift fully into the next phase of the race, making its case to voters across the North Shore while others are still working to clear their first hurdle.
As Koh put it, the early milestone is less about the campaign itself and more about those who made it possible: “It’s a huge testament to everyone involved who stood outside every grocery store, every caucus… to make sure this has happened.”
