Scoop: Buttigieg gets behind Dan Koh for North Shore congressional seat
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Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is throwing his support behind Dan Koh, the former Marty Walsh and White House aide running for the North Shore congressional seat being left open by Rep. Seth Moulton.
Why it matters: It's a national-profile boost for Koh in a crowded Democratic primary.
What they're saying: "He is somebody who understands what public service is about — not sound bites, not who won the latest round online, but results," Buttigieg said of Koh, in a video announcing his endorsement shared with Axios.
- "Whether he was at Boston City Hall, at the Department of Labor, or at the White House, he has consistently been focused on what public servants should be focused on," Buttigieg said.
Between the lines: In an interview with Axios, Koh described Buttigieg as a mentor on political combat, crediting him with encouraging Democrats to compete in hostile media environments.
- "He's helped me understand that we desperately need effective communicators in the party," Koh said, noting the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor's appearances on Fox News and debates with conservative commentators.
State of play: The Sept. 1 primary will likely decide who succeeds Moulton in Congress.
- Geography and local bases of support matter in a district that spans coastal Essex County communities and inland to the Merrimack Valley suburbs.
- Beyond Koh, several candidates are making the race one of New England's most-watched House primaries.
Who's in:
- Tram Nguyen, a state representative and former refugee, has focused on cost-of-living and civil rights as her central pitch.
- Other Democrats running include John Beccia, Beth Andres-Beck, Jamie Belsito, Kyle Davis, Rick Jakious, Mariah Lancaster and others.
What's next: With nomination papers available as of Feb. 10, signature collection and early endorsements will quickly separate serious contenders from the rest.
The big picture: Buttigieg's endorsement follows one from former Vice President Kamala Harris, showing that Koh is consolidating support from prominent Biden-era figures.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to remove a reference to Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, who is not running for Congress.