Summer Lee, a member of the progressive group of House Democrats known as the Squad, is the first to face a 2024 primary challenge, a contest that will test Democratic divides over Israel policy. Lee, one of the earliest lawmakers to call for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to criticize Israel’s airstrikes, has faced criticism from her moderate challenger, Edgewood City Council member Bhavini Patel, over these positions. Their race reflects the intense focus on the conflict in the wake of Hamas’s rocket attacks and Israel’s devastating bombings of Gaza.
Democrats have been divided in their stance on the ongoing war, with many progressives on Capitol Hill calling for a ceasefire and more moderate lawmakers arguing for military aid to Israel. As the congressional primary season unfolds, many anti-war progressives, particularly those in the Squad, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), are facing primaries against challengers supported by pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). While Lee’s race is not a perfect analogy for those of her Squad colleagues, it will send an early signal about the seriousness of the threat that the primaries pose to progressive Democrats.
Lee, a former community organizer and state representative, is a first-term lawmaker who represents Pennsylvania’s 12th district. The district, which is in the western part of the state and includes Pittsburgh, is solidly Democratic, but more moderate than some of the other districts that progressives hold around the country. Lee has long backed progressive policies like Medicare-for-all and a Green New Deal. During the race, she has emphasized how much federal funding has flowed to her district during her term, including money dedicated to everything from replacing lead water pipes to expanding passenger rail service in the region.
When it comes to Israel-related policy, Lee has condemned Hamas, called for a ceasefire, voted against a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel, and voted against sending a recent aid package to Israel. These positions build on past statements Lee has made in support of Palestinian rights and calling for the conditioning of US aid based on humanitarian requirements.
Lee’s position on Israel’s war in Gaza has been scrutinized and, at times, criticized by some of her constituents, which includes a large Jewish American population. Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh and part of Lee’s district, was the site of a devastating antisemitic mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018. Some Jewish constituents who’ve expressed concerns about Israel’s attacks on Gaza have, however, supported Lee’s stances.
Patel, meanwhile, is an entrepreneur and city council member. Her key policy positions include backing labor unions, supporting law enforcement, and lowering prescription drug costs. Across a broad array of issues, including education, healthcare, and environmental policy, her stances are to the right of Lee’s.
Patel has also taken a more moderate position on Israel’s offensive and has expressed support for the country. She has claimed that Lee’s position is not a reflection of where her constituents stand and has condemned Lee’s backing of voters who choose “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary instead of supporting a candidate.
Despite Patel’s criticism, Lee has built up an impressive arsenal of fundraising and endorsements that far outpace Patel’s, including backing from Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, an indication of the strength of her candidacy. Such support signals that she is in a solid position going into this race, despite the disagreement some constituents have expressed about her stances. This strength may be a reason why AIPAC, a pro-Israel group that’s vowed to send $100 million to unseat progressive candidates, did not invest in this particular primary. Other outside groups, including the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC (DMFI), which draws much of its funding from a pro-Israel Republican donor, are backing Patel.
Due to her fundraising gains, incumbency, endorsements, and the state of public opinion, Lee is widely expected to come out victorious against her moderate challenger. Her success would send a positive signal to her fellow progressives who are also under threat of primary challenges, including some that could be heavily supported by pro-Israel groups like AIPAC.
Lee’s race is far from the only one in which lawmakers’ stances on Israel are expected to be a flash point. AIPAC has said it intends to spend a significant amount of money on taking out certain progressive members, and groups like the DMFI have said the same. In 2022, AIPAC saw successes in six of eight Democratic primary races that it invested in, including in Michigan.
Some of the members that AIPAC and DMFI intend to target include other members of the Squad like Reps. Jamaal Bowman (NY), Cori Bush (MO), Ilhan Omar (MN), and Rashida Tlaib (MI), all of whom will be up for primaries later this year. Experts note that AIPAC and DMFI may have passed on investing in Lee’s race in favor of putting their dollars in primaries in which lawmakers are perceived to be more vulnerable. Bowman and Bush are two of the lawmakers who could well see more difficult races because they are navigating other issues that could affect their candidacies.
Beyond Democratic primaries, there’s also an open question on the impact that intraparty fissures on Israel will have on support for President Biden in November. Already, a fraction of Democratic voters have expressed their opposition to his willingness to continue backing Israel’s military as more than 30,000 Gazans have been killed. In Michigan, for example, some voters cast their vote for “uncommitted” in order to register their opposition to Biden.
With the Democratic presidential race expected to be close, anything that could depress turnout or reduce excitement for the Democratic nominee could be problematic.
