Progressive representative. Summer Lee fended off a primary challenge from Edgewood Borough Council member Bhavini Patel of NBC News Projects in a race that served as a first test of what Democratic voters think about the war between Israel and Hamas and their concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism in their country.
With 99% of expected votes counted, Lee held a 21-point advantage over Patel.
In a victory speech in Pittsburgh, Lee said, “This movement is stronger than anything they want to throw at us” and is “stronger than any Republican billionaire.” She called for peace “from Pittsburgh to Palestine.”
“Our movement is broad enough and big enough for all of us,” she said, addressing those who opposed her in the primary. “We will not be ashamed or bow our heads when we say we don’t want any more wars, when we say people deserve dignity, human rights and self-determination, regardless of whether they are Jewish or Muslims, black or white, or if they” I’m in Gaza, Pakistan or Haiti.
After his defeat, Patel said in a statement that while the result was disappointing, “the race was far from a loss.”
“This race was about more than just me or my opponent,” she said. “It was about passing common-sense laws that put money in the pockets of working families. It was about fighting hatred and putting an end to anti-Semitism. And it was about ensuring that President Biden was re-elected in November.
Lee, a member of the House Squad, has criticized Israel’s handling of the war and was one of the first lawmakers to call for a ceasefire in Gaza last year. Patel described Lee’s advocacy as damaging to Biden’s re-election chances and out of step with his district.
Pittsburgh’s 12th District is also home to Squirrel Hill, one of the most historically Jewish neighborhoods in the country and home to the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history .
Lee, who has condemned Hamas and spoken out against anti-Semitism, accused the Israeli government of committing “war crimes” and called for an end to unconditional military aid to the country. On Saturday, she joined 36 Democrats and 21 Republicans in voting against an aid plan for Israel, which passed overwhelmingly. Jewish leaders in Pittsburgh expressed discomfort with the way she handled and discussed issues relating to Israel.
But Lee was considered a prohibitive favorite heading into Tuesday. The first Black woman elected to Congress in Pennsylvania, Lee overcame significant spending from pro-Israel groups in her first primary bid in 2022 before winning the general election. These same groups did not get involved in her race this time, even as Israel became a much bigger issue, viewing efforts to topple her as a steep climb.
Well defined in the district, Lee has focused her race around fighting Republicans aligned with Donald Trump, bringing federal dollars to the district and attracting new voters to the Democratic Party…
