Congressman-elect Dan Koh says his first priority is to 'get to the bottom of Donald Trump’s corruption'

Dan Koh votes at Andover High School in the state primary on Sept. 1, 2026. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images file)

For the first time in six years, Massachusetts has a new member of Congress. Democrat Dan Koh defeated Republican Micah Jones to win the state's open 6th congressional district seat, which covers most of the North Shore.

On morning after his decisive win, Koh told WBUR's Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing his first priority is to investigate President Trump for what Koh said was "corruption." Koh also spoke of his admiration for a more personal style of politics, which he said was embodied by one of his previous bosses, former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

Below are highlights from their conversation, which have been lightly edited.

On his priorities for his first 100 days in office:

“First of all, we need to actually get to the bottom of Donald Trump's corruption, make sure it never happens again in the United States of America… I believe that all of the things that we are seeing right now, that people are suffering with when it comes to higher costs and the war in Iran, when we see the lack of faith in our institutions, it's because of a president who has corrupted our government to an extent that so many people don't even recognize it anymore.

“The second thing is introducing legislation that will actually lower costs for people, like capping people's utility bills and rent, the things that are really causing people a lot of pain right now, and that we actually need good, thoughtful policy to address.”

On his legislative role model:

“Marty Walsh. Marty Walsh is somebody who has and will always be someone who's in public service for the right reasons. He spent 16 years in the state legislature before he became mayor, and then serving at the federal level.

“What I admire most about him is not only was he phenomenal and dedicated to good, thoughtful legislation, but I cannot even tell you how many times we had meetings run late or not start because he was in the back room on the phone with somebody who was thinking about drinking again, and he wanted to make sure that person had help. Or someone called him and reached out because a job opportunity for a young kid in need fell through. He was in it for the right reasons.

“It actually makes me emotional just thinking about it, and he was the inspiration that I feel gives politics a good name, and we need more people in it for the right reasons that give politics a good name.”

On how he will differ from outgoing Rep. Seth Moulton:

“I have a lot of respect for Congressman Moulton, especially his military service. I respectfully feel like it’s my opportunity to chart my own path, and I think every single member of Congress should have the right to do that.

“I want to be the kind of person and the kind of representative that people say, ‘he's waking up every single moment, every single day, and focused every single moment on how he can maximize the role to deliver for people.’ That is something that is a lost art, candidly, does not exist that much in D.C. I've spent enough time in D.C. to know that there are very few people who are focused on that, and I'm going to be working my butt off every day to prove it to the 6th District.”

This segment aired on November 4, 2026.