U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat, staved off a moderate challenger to retain her Pittsburgh-area seat Tuesday. Lee defeated Bhavini Patel, who criticized Lee for her stance on Israel and support for a cease-fire in Gaza. Lee’s victory was seen as an early test of progressive strength against outside spending, and a microcosm of the ongoing debate between moderates and progressives in the Democratic party. A freshman congresswoman, Lee won her first primary in 2022 by less than 1,000 votes. Upon entering office Lee, the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress, became a member of “the Squad,” a group of progressive Democrats, including New York’s Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Missouri’s Cori Bush. While Lee has focused her reelection campaign heavily on constituent services and projects she brought home to her district, it has become a microcosm of the debate between moderates and progressives in the Democratic party. It will be an early test of progressive strength against outside spending. Lee faced a serious challenge from Patel, who said she would be a more loyal ally to Biden. Patel also criticized Lee, who has called for a cease-fire in Gaza, of ignoring Jewish voters. Even among her supporters Lee’s position on Israel was controversial, especially among voters in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, which has a significant Jewish population. Following Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Pittsburgh residents rallied in support of Israel. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat, attended the event, but Lee did not. Lee said at a candidate forum that she could not attend every event because she has “ a job in Washington, D.C .” “I think she lost a lot of support because of that,” said Michele Feingold, 66, who voted for Patel after supporting Lee in the past. Feingold is a member of a local 14th Ward Democratic Committee, which endorsed Lee. Liz Healy, 77, the chair of the same committee, said she voted for Lee because she felt Lee’s progressive values aligned with her own. Patel’s campaign received significant donations from Republican voters and support from Moderate PAC, which is funded by a Pennsylvania billionaire who has donated to Republicans in the past. Healy expressed concern that Patel might feel pressured to appease these donors if elected.
Lee Beats Back Patel in Pittsburgh-Area Democratic Primary
