Seth Moulton's U.S. Senate Challenge To Ed Markey Opens Door For 6th Congressional Democrats

SALEM, MA — A rare open Congressional seat in Massachusetts has North Shore and Merrimack Valley Democrats quickly lining up to take their shot at the party nomination this week following U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton's announcement on Wednesday that he is challenging sitting U.S. Senator Ed Markey in a primary fight.

Former Biden Administration official Dan Koh, of Andover, former state representative and current Topsfield town moderator Jamie Belsito and Middleton software engineer and progressive activist Beth Andres-Beck have all put their hats in the ring for the 6th MA Congressional seat.

• U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton To Primary Challenge U.S. Sen. Ed Markey

Andres-Beck, who proclaimed in a campaign announcement to be "an agender, trans, queer and proudly Unitarian-Universalist," said the motivation to challenge Moulton was a conviction that "Americans can have good things."

"Functional healthcare, honest government, safe schools and a future we can take pride in building," Andres-Beck said. "I'm running for Congress because I believe we can have those things, not because we behave or wait our turn, but because we organize, show up and believe in one another."

Belsito announced her candidacy on Wednesday, saying: "Donald Trump is shredding our Constitution while he plans to stay in power for an illegal third term. I’m running for Congress because we need Democrats who won't apologize. Join me and fight for human rights, universal healthcare, a fair economy, and the 6th District."

She said Democrats should not feel they have to compromise when it comes to fighting for human rights, universal healthcare, and good union jobs.

"We don't need to choose between those values," she said. "We need to lead on them. I've taken on my own party when it falls short of our ideals, whether it was supporting transparency by auditing the legislature, or calling out the corrupt war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu for the genocide in Gaza.

"It's time for Democrats who fight and win, not apologize."

Koh said in his announcement on Thursday that he is running "to end Donald Trump's attack on our democracy and make life more affordable for everyone.

"I don't back down from a fight," he said. "I'll use my experience at all levels of government to deliver on Day 1."

Koh, a political commentator who was also Boston's Chief of Staff while Marty Walsh was mayor and a member of the Andover Select Board, said "this is personal" for him after the town welcomed his family from Lebanon and Korea, and because "that story is only possible in a proud and diverse America."

"Democrats just aren't getting it done in D.C.," Koh said. "We all know it. We need to stop Donald Trump's insane tariffs that are driving prices up. We need to stop taking healthcare away from people and start giving good, affordable coverage for everyone. We need to stop giving tax breaks to billionaires and start giving tax cuts to the middle class.

"We can't roll over and let this nightmare continue. We have to fight for the America that we believe in."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)