U.S. House, Massachusetts 6th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District?
Dan Koh has the strongest record in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District. Dan Koh scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Micah Jones at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Dan Koh's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Micah Jones's highest marks are command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Micah Jones
On the ballot as Micah Quinney Jones
53 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Dan Koh
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Micah Jones
- On the record2026
Worked as a litigation associate in the securities enforcement practice of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius in Boston.
Source: Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
- On the record2026-08
Signed a pledge to serve no more than three House terms.
Source: Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
- On the record2026-09-02
Challenged Democratic nominee Dan Koh to at least three general election debates.
Source: Campaign site, Sept. 2, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Accused Democratic nominee Dan Koh in September 2026 of ducking debates after Endicott College canceled a Sept. 17 general election debate between them.
Sources: Patch (Beverly), Sept. 10, 2026, Salem News (CNHI), Sept. 10, 2026
- On the record2022
Registered as a Republican in Essex in 2022 after leaving the Democratic Party while in law school; says he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024.
Sources: Boston Globe, June 3, 2026, Fox News
- On the record2011-2016
Served in the U.S. Army from 2011 to 2016, including a deployment to Afghanistan.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Micah Jones, Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
Dan Koh
- On the record2026-01
Served earlier on the Andover Select Board and later as a White House deputy cabinet secretary and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Source: Swampscott Tides, Jan. 22, 2026
- On the record2026
Served as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
Source: Ballotpedia, Dan Koh
- On the record2026-06-17
Took part in a Salem State University Berry Institute of Politics debate and forum with five other Democratic primary candidates.
Source: Swampscott Tides, June 18, 2026
- On the record2026-07
Missed a North Andover Democratic primary debate after a death in his family.
Source: Swampscott Tides, July 30, 2026
- On the record2026-09
In September 2026 Endicott College canceled a Sept. 17 general election debate, saying it lacked confirmation from both campaigns; Jones said Koh declined it and a Sept. 22 Swampscott debate. His campaign cited 11 debates.
Sources: Patch (Beverly), Sept. 10, 2026, Salem News (CNHI), Sept. 10, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Micah Jones. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure on July 31, 2026, and FEC reports are on file through Aug. 12, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074426, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Dan Koh. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure on May 15, 2026, and FEC reports are on file through Aug. 12, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076577, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Micah Jones. Says he accepted invitations to a Sept. 17 Endicott College and League of Women Voters debate and a Sept. 22 Swampscott Tides debate, and sat for a Swampscott Tides candidate interview.
Sources: Campaign site, Sept. 10, 2026, Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
Dan Koh. Took part in 2026 primary forums and debates, including an Ipswich Democratic forum in January and a Salem State University debate in June. No straight news report found on general election debates with his Republican opponent.
Sources: Swampscott Tides, Jan. 22, 2026, Swampscott Tides, June 18, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Micah Jones. Served as an Army officer from 2011 to 2016, including a deployment to Afghanistan, then practiced securities litigation at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius. No conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Micah Jones, Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
Dan Koh. Served as chief of staff to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Labor and a deputy cabinet secretary in the White House. No conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dan Koh, Swampscott Tides, Jan. 22, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Micah Jones. Served in the U.S. Army from 2011 to 2016 and left as a captain. No official finding of misuse of office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Micah Jones, Campaign site, Meet Micah
Dan Koh. Held elected local office on the Andover Select Board and served in federal posts at the White House and the Department of Labor. No official finding of misuse of office.
Sources: Swampscott Tides, Jan. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Dan Koh
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Micah Jones. Army infantry and intelligence officer for five years, including an advisory tour in Afghanistan, and later a securities litigation attorney. Has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Micah Jones, Swampscott Tides, Aug. 13, 2026
Dan Koh. Former Andover Select Board member; held senior federal posts as White House deputy cabinet secretary and Department of Labor chief of staff, and was chief of staff to the mayor of Boston.
Sources: Swampscott Tides, Jan. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Dan Koh
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Micah Jones. Publishes three plans with specific pledges within Congress's powers, such as banning individual stock trading by members and spouses and tightening post-service lobbying rules; answered Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Accountability plan, Ballotpedia, Micah Jones
Dan Koh. Publishes issue pages on 14 topics, some with specific proposals such as a Medicare for All system with default enrollment, and answered Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Issues, Ballotpedia, Dan Koh
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Micah Jones. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes issue plans on his campaign site.
Dan Koh. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes issue pages and took part in primary debates and forums.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dan Koh, Campaign site, Issues, Swampscott Tides, June 18, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Micah Jones. Has lived in Essex, which lies wholly in the 6th District, since 2020. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 70 percent of itemized individual contributions from Massachusetts.
Sources: MA Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2026 State Election Candidates (Wayback capture Sept. 20, 2026), Campaign site, Meet Micah, U.S. Census Bureau, 119th Congress district to county subdivision relationship file, Massachusetts, FEC contribution totals by state
Dan Koh. Born and raised in Andover, where he lives; Andover lies wholly in the 6th District. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 53 percent of itemized individual contributions from Massachusetts.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Dan Koh, MA Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2026 State Election Candidates (Wayback capture Sept. 20, 2026), U.S. Census Bureau, 119th Congress district to county subdivision relationship file, Massachusetts, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Micah Jones. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 12, 2026, with no debts owed by the committee. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Dan Koh. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 12, 2026; the committee reports $69,000 in debts. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Micah Jones. No public record found.
Dan Koh. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District?
Dan Koh has the strongest record in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District. Dan Koh scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Micah Jones at 53, as of October 9, 2026. Dan Koh's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Micah Jones's highest marks are command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Massachusetts's 6th Congressional District in 2026?
Micah Jones (Republican), Dan Koh (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Micah Jones a good candidate for Congress?
Micah Jones scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Dan Koh a good candidate for Congress?
Dan Koh scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Massachusetts race scored, and the Massachusetts 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.