ELECTION 2024: Live primary results: Summer Lee nominated to serve second term in Congress

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, arrives at her election night party on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel in Downtown. Lee won the District 12 Democratic primary over Edgewood Councilor Bhavini Patel. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)

The progressive Democrat from Swissvale overcame a challenger who questioned her support of President Joe Biden amid party divisions over Israel’s war in Gaza.

by Charlie Wolfson, PublicSource

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a Swissvale Democrat, won the primary in the 12th Congressional District, turning back a challenge from Edgewood Borough Councilor Bhavini Patel in one of Pennsylvania’s most-watched elections. The Associated Press declared Lee the winner at 9:21 p.m. as she led with 59% of the vote.

The contest between Lee and Patel cost millions of dollars, drew in supporters from across the country and involved policy issues including Israel’s war in Gaza and support for President Joe Biden’s re-election.

“Our campaign was built on a record of delivering for our democracy, defending our most fundamental rights, and expanding our vision for what is politically possible for our region’s most marginalized communities,” Lee said in a release put out by her campaign shortly after the race was called.

Group of people at a political campaign event, interacting happily with "Summer Lee for Congress" promotional materials visible. — Yvonne Owens, center bottom, of Homestead, and Marcella Lee-Wilson, right, of Rankin, celebrate at U.S. Rep. Summer Lee’s election night party on April 23. Owens is a cousin of Lee-Wilson, who is Lee’s grandmother. “She’s my cousin, but more importantly, she’s my congresswoman,” said Owens. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)

Lee will face Shadyside Republican James Hayes in the Nov. 5 General Election and she will be favored to win the Democratic-leaning district that encompasses Pittsburgh, some southern and eastern suburbs and part of Westmoreland County.

Patel ran a campaign focused partly on her career and upbringing but also on criticisms of Lee’s first term in Congress — often accusing Lee of being insufficiently supportive of Biden. Her challenge attracted support from Jeffrey Yass, a conservative billionaire from the Philadelphia suburbs who typically supports Republican candidates, and who Patel denounced.

Edgewood Councilor Bhavini Patel, right, speaks with campaign volunteer Eric Fussenegger, left, of Monroeville, at the Church of the Resurrection polling station in Monroeville on April 23. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)

Lee called her win “a rejection of right-wing interests and Republican billionaires using corporate Super PACs to target Black and brown Democrats in our primaries — be it [pro-Israel] AIPAC or [Yass-funded] Moderate PAC or any other MAGA billionaire in Democratic clothing.”

Lee has criticized Israel and its actions in Gaza, and at times Biden’s policy toward Israel. Patel has been more supportive of the longtime U.S. ally and tried to use the issue as proof that Lee would jeopardize Biden’s strength heading into November — though Biden complimented Lee in a Pittsburgh visit last week and Lee said Tuesday she voted for him in the primary.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, left, cheers on U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, right, D-Swissvale, as Lee arrives at her election night party on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel in Downtown. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)

Outside a polling location early Tuesday, Patel said the region “deserves a leader where every voice is represented and every voice is reflected. … I think we can adopt socially progressive values while having mainstream Democratic voices. And bringing people into the party.”

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