The seven announced candidates for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District met Wednesday at a Democratic candidates’ forum, discussing topics ranging from party leadership to the U.S.’s involvement in conflict around the world.

The Ipswich Democratic Town Committee sponsored Wednesday night’s forum at Ascension Memorial Church’s Boone Hall. John Beccia, Bethany Andres-Beck, Jamie Belsito, Rick Jakious, Dan Koh, Tram Nguyen and Mariah Lancaster participated.

The 6th District’s congressional seat is up for grabs after Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced he would challenge Sen. Edward Markey in the Democratic primary ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Markey, 79, would be among the oldest members of Congress if he were to win.

The Candidates

Beccia, a Lynnfield lawyer, announced in early January that his campaign would report $1 million cash on hand following its first quarter of fundraising. After graduating from Providence College and attending law school at night, Beccia built a career working with federal regulators to combat terrorist financing and consumer fraud. He later became a leader in the emerging field of financial technology.

Andres-Beck is a senior staff software engineer and Democratic activist who lives in Middleton. They describe themselves as “agender, trans, queer and proudly Unitarian Universalist.” Andres-Beck graduated from Smith College with a degree in costume design. They announced a primary challenge against Moulton in June, prior to his Senate campaign launch.

Belsito is a former state representative for the 4th Essex District and currently serves as town moderator in Topsfield. A Reading native who now lives in Topsfield, she is the founder of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, where she worked on federal initiatives to support mothers and families. Belsito was recently endorsed by former Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga. She unsuccessfully ran against Moulton in 2020.

Jakious, a Swampscott resident, served as a longtime aide to Moulton, holding roles as district director and, more recently, chief of staff. He previously served as CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, leading statewide efforts to strengthen nearly 35,000 nonprofit organizations. He also held local and national roles with City Year, a Boston-based education nonprofit. Jakious ended the first quarter of his campaign with nearly $300,000, which his campaign said was raised “by listening to voters in all 39 communities, not courting Washington insiders.”

Koh is a former Andover Select Board member and Biden White House aide. He served as deputy cabinet secretary, overseeing communications, policy and logistics between the White House, Cabinet and federal agencies. Koh previously served as chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Labor and chief operating officer of the software platform HqO. He announced in early January that he raised more than $2 million in less than one quarter, setting a fundraising record for any Massachusetts U.S. House candidate. His campaign reported more than 3,000 contributions. Koh, who lives in Andover, has been endorsed by former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Rep. John Tierney, who represented the 6th District for over a decade. He has also received an endorsement from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 35, which represents more than 4,000 workers across the region.

Lancaster is the latest to join the candidate race. They are a veterinarian, who previously worked as a congressional aide. Lancaster also served as a foreign affairs officer at the State Department, working against environmental crime and corruption. When Republicans took over Congress, Lancaster moved into non-profit government affairs work. Lancaster recently called for the abolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. The 36-year-old candidate identifies as non-binary.

Nguyen is the current 18th Essex District state representative, serving Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury. She chairs the House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability, making her the first Asian American woman to chair a committee in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Born in Vietnam, Nguyen immigrated to the U.S. with her family at age 5 and grew up in the Merrimack Valley. She previously worked at Greater Boston Legal Services, representing survivors of domestic violence in family and immigration law. According to her campaign, Nguyen has raised more than $255,000 from 1,185 individual donors, with more than 80% of funds coming from Massachusetts-based contributors.

The Questions

After each candidate had the chance to introduce themselves to the audience, members of the public were invited up to a microphone to ask their own questions.

The first question to the candidates was about the path forward for Democrats and what each candidate can do to contribute to change.

“I think that we need people in Congress that are prepared to take direct action,” said Andres-Beck, “who are prepared to stand up, be brave, stand for what we stand for, take clear positions instead of trying to make donors happy. We need to give people something positive to vote for.”

Beccia said the party needs people in Congress who are going to vote with courage and conviction and stand up for democracy. He said there is currently too much of “not doing what is right.”

“Democrats have to stop talking, and start doing,” said Belsito, who said she is tired of Democrats asking her for vote when they aren’t putting in the required amount of effort. “We need to get money out of our elections. We had the House, the Senate and the White House, and we didn’t do it, and we need to ask our leadership to do that.”

Jakious said winning the midterms and the next presidential election is a “need” for the Democratic Party.

“What I don’t hear people talking about is what does the day after Donald Trump look like,” said Jakious. “We need to have a serious conversation about what the Democratic Party looks like. We need to stand firm with our values while creating a bigger tent and bringing people back.”

Koh said he is worried the Democratic Party might not make it to midterm elections unless the party starts fighting harder each day. He said every day President Donald Trump does “something more crazy” than the last, and the media reacts passively – either out of fear or lack of understanding.

“There’s a lot of focus on Trump as a human being and not a lot on the infrastructure that put him there,” said Lancaster. “We spend a lot of time thinking about regaining power and what are we going to do when we do and not a ton of time thinking about how did we lose it in the first place, how did we get here.”

Nguyen said the community needs hope as well as exciting candidates that people want to support and get behind.

“We need to be bold and we need to stand up,” said Nguyen.

One audience member said she was concerned that the Democratic Party had become “as much of a war party as the Republican Party.” She asked the candidates whether they would vote in support of the shipping and supplying of arms to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

“I will not vote for a single dime to go to a country that is violating human rights,” said Lancaster.

Nguyen said the U.S. should never give a blank check to anyone without accountability.

“Every single dime that we give to any country should come with conditions that we should uphold,” said Koh.

Andres-Beck said their political life started when they protested the Iraq War, so in the “day and age of modern warfare we need to take responsibility for how our resources are being used, the impact of sanctions, not just bombs, and where we are standing up for our values versus where we are standing up for dollars.”

Candidates were also asked if they would support Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) as the next Speaker of the House or seek an alternative.

“I think we need to look at all of our options,” said Beccia. “We need to go in there and we need to shake things up in a real way. I think we need to find the best person to really lead our part at a really critical time.”

Belsito said she wouldn’t make that decision until she is in Washington D.C.

Jakious said he thinks “we are all” frustrated with Democratic Party leadership, adding that it needs to be diversified.

“We need leaders that represent what our electorate looks like and should look like,” Jakious said. “I think it’s too soon to answer the question about Leader Jefferies. I think we have to see what the results of the midterm election are.”

Closing Statements

Candidates closed the forum by offering brief final remarks.

“I think that I bring experience that no one that has come up through one of the conventional pathways is going to bring,” said Andres-Beck. “We need somebody in congress who understands how the internet works. We need someone in congress who is prepared for the coming technology and the revolution that that’s going to bring.”

Beccia said someone who truly cares about the district community is needed.

“Our democracy is under attack and we need people with maturity, experience and a common sense to get things done and bring people together,” said Beccia. “I’ve done that through the course of my career in the private sector…No one will outwork me,” he said.

Belsito spoke about her previous experience serving the community.

“I am on the frontlines making sure that women are protected, that our elders are protected, that mental health is protected,” said Belsito. “I can start this job on day 1. I’ve done it for you before.”

Jakious said people are scared, hurting and they have been for a long time. He said people are right to not think their government cares or is listening currently.

“When a local brewery owner came to me and said the only thing between him and opening his business was a USDA permit, I helped him get that business,” said Jakious. “I believe I have an unparalleled understanding of this district, of its community, of its people. I also understand how to get things done in Washington, D.C.”

Koh said the country’s democracy is at stake and that this is a very scary time.

“Every single day the news gets more and more horrifying,” Koh said. “The question is, at this inflection point, who you elect and what experiences does that person have to be ready on day one to fight for the right things and to stand up to this president while also standing up for the most vulnerable communities in this district.”

Lancaster said the Democratic Party has to take concrete action and has to do it together.

“We have a choice in this race,” they said. “It’s up to you to decide what kind of democrat you want to send. I want you to think about what your values are, what our values are and what we’re each gonna bring.”

Nguyen said she wants to show people that the government can be a source of good.

“We need someone who can really understand the struggles of the people,” said Nguyen. “I know what it’s like to have to stand in the food pantry line. I know what it’s like to live in public housing…This is exactly why I’ve spent my entire career in public service.”

Monica Sager contributed to this story.