Candidate wants to be Massachusetts' first Asian American in Congress

Dan Koh and his parents.

DAN KOH could very well become the first Korean American member of Congress. He's running for the Third District Congressional seat in Massachusetts.

His big test is Sept. 4 when Massachusetts holds its primary. In the primary, Koh will be running for the seat against 12 other Democrats. 

The wide open contest is the result of the retirement of the Third District's long-time representtive, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

"In today’s political climate, I think it is really important that the Democratic Party and people who feel really strongly that the country needs to go in a different direction than the way this president is bringing us really need to step up and try to make change," said Koh to Next Shark.

"I feel responsible for fighting for that system for generations to come for both recent immigrants and people who have been in this country for a long time and now think the cards are stacked against them,." said Koh, who is of Lebanese and Korean descent.

Koh grew up in Andover, Mass. with his parents, and his brother and sister. Most recently, Dan served as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, where he managed 18,000 employees and a $3 billion budget during one of the most prosperous four-year stretches in Boston’s history. Previously, He also served as Chief of Staff at the Huffington Post. He also served as an advisor to Boston Mayor Tom Menino and as an intern for Senator Ted Kennedy.

Like so many first-time candidates, Koh was inspired to throw his hat in the ring because of the policies and actions of Donald Trump.

He promises to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare and fight for an economy where everyone can earn a living wage and has the opportunity to get ahead. 

Koh holds a B.A. from Harvard College and an M.B.A from Harvard Business School, where he met his wife Amy. 

He'll be running against some pretty big names in Massachusetts politics, including: Rufus Gifford, the former U.S. ambassador to Denmark; state Sen. Barbara L’Italien; Lori Trahan, the former chief of staff of the district’s former Rep. Marty Meehan; Alexandra Chandler, a former Pentagon intelligence analyst; Steve Kerrigan, the former Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

In the Primary, he only needs to win the plurality of votes. The top vote-getter, even if he or she gets less than 50% of the vote, would run against the Republican candidate in November.

In 2015, Dan Koh proposed to his current wife, Amy, after running the Boston Marathon. Both are avid runners.

Other excerpts of the Next Shark interview touched on his ethnicity and how it impacts his candidacy and personal life:

How has your racial and ethnic background shaped your candidacy?  “My family came from two different parts of the world: Korea and Lebanon. They met in the United States, a country that was inclusive and welcoming to them, and were able to have the American Dream. Now, a Korean and Lebanese kid has a chance to be a Congressman. So, I take that very seriously. I hold the process that every person that comes to this country very close to my heart. It gives me a perspective on making sure that government creates an environment that people who have been here for many or a few generations know that the system is here to help them. I think that too often people feel like the system is rigged against them. ... 

“I grew up without a lot of Asian American role models in leadership — and that includes politics, business, and a number of different areas. That is a difficult thing for Asian Americans. From an academic perspective, Asian Americans have historically succeeded in many areas. But when you look at Fortune 500 companies or Congress or even if you look at any other areas of leadership, Asian Americans are severely underrepresented relative to their academic achievements. I think part of that is cultural but a lot of that is that Asian American families, especially parents who play a significant role in the lives of their kids, don’t see those role models there and then don’t see it as a viable path for their kids. The more Asian Americans in leadership, the more paths become viable for children who are aspiring to get involved in different sectors that aren’t typically those represented by Asian Americans. Certainly, that is something I care deeply about as an Asian American and someone who wants to see more people of color in leadership positions in general.”

Do you feel a part of a larger national movement of young people running for office?“I think young people and people of color, for a long time, have felt that they wanted to be more civically engaged and haven’t been. Especially after the 2016 election there is a real wave of people who are stepping up and are not being complacent. There is a lot of new blood that has entered the political sphere and that is really good for this country and is really exciting. More diversity in DC is always exciting and the more the better.”

Have you experienced racism and/or ageism along the campaign trail?“I think that people of color continue to face issues of racism. We are posting new ads and sometimes we get responses that are racially tinged. But that is a part of being in the public eye. I wish it weren’t happening but it’s a reminder that this exists and we have to fight against it every day. In the America that I believe in, we are an inclusive country of immigrants — that is something we have to protect and fight for. The more people see people of color in leadership positions, the rareness of it will go away, and the better we can do that.”

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