{shortcode-c9ca3d19a0e0e321bd34d6cab9afe5eba7f366ec}

Former Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona, a current fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, said he would be endorsing former Biden administration official Daniel A. Koh ’07 in his campaign for the House of Representatives.

Koh, a graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Business School, launched his bid in October to fill the seat that Representative Seth W. Moulton ’01 (D-Mass.) will vacate by the end of his term. Moulton is challenging Senator Ed J. Markey (D-Mass.) for his seat in the 2026 primary.

Cardona’s endorsement, which has not previously been reported, is the second that Koh has received from a high-level Democrat. Former United States Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Koh in October, praising what she called his “steadfast drive to make life better” and calling him “the fighter you deserve.”

In an interview, Cardona called Koh “a man of character” who could cross the aisle and strike bipartisan compromises with Republican counterparts. He said that while Koh is a “strong Democrat” with sound liberal credentials, he would also be “willing to listen to different perspectives.”

“I find him to be someone that could work across the aisle,” Cardona said. “I find him to be someone that does not compromise his values, while also looking for ways to support people who may not agree with him.”

Cardona specifically praised Koh’s commitment to improving public education, saying that he would “want excellence in our schools.”

“He would want to make sure schools are safe places for students,” Cardona added. “He’s the type of person that’s very passionate about providing services and democracy.”

Koh served in multiple senior roles under former U.S. President Joe Biden, including as deputy assistant to the president and deputy cabinet secretary. It was at the White House that Koh and Cardona met.

Before his stint in the Biden administration, Koh served as the chief of staff for former Boston mayor Martin J. Walsh. Koh interacted with Harris advising Walsh, who is close to Harris and was rumored to be her presumptive pick for chief of staff had she won the 2024 presidential election.

The race to fill Moulton’s seat is fiercely contested, with six candidates including Koh vying for a spot in the House. But Koh’s campaign has been gaining steam since it was launched. Beyond the big-name endorsements, Koh announced in October that he had raised $1 million in his first week of campaigning, a pool that included $50,000 of his own funds.

In a statement to The Crimson, Koh wrote that he was “honored” to receive Cardona’s backing and said he would be interested in working with the former Education Secretary if he wins the election next November.

“He is a former union member who understands deeply how important it is that schools have the resources they need for all children to thrive,” Koh wrote. “I look forward to working closely with him both during the campaign and if I’m fortunate enough to be elected to Congress.”

At Harvard, Koh lived in Winthrop House and was active in political organizations on campus. He served as a liaison in the IOP’s Fellows and Study Groups for former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who was an IOP fellow in 2004. Koh was also a member of the a capella group Din and Tonics and the Harvard Glee Club.

Cardona said Koh’s work at the White House demonstrated his “passion for public service.”

“He’s passionate about making sure all students, all people in our country, and particularly his area, have opportunities for growth,” Cardona said, adding that Koh had consistently made sure “the American people that needed support got it and had opportunities to grow.”

—Staff writer Megan L. Blonigen can be reached at megan.blonigen@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X at @MeganBlonigen.