Summer Lee beats Bhavini Patel in Democratic primary

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, cruised to a primary victory Tuesday night, vanquishing her Democratic challenger, Bhavini Patel.

Lee, a progressive, took an early lead over the more moderate Edgewood councilwoman with a strong showing in mail-in ballots. Lee never looked back.

With nearly 100% of precincts reporting, Lee won with 60% of the vote to Patel’s 39%. Lee won the contest by more than 22,000 votes.

Just before 10 p.m., Lee took the stage at a ballroom in the Renaissance Hotel Downtown.

Hugging Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Lee stepped to the lectern, let out a whoop and addressed a crowd of about 200 cheering supporters. Lee acknowledged the growing power of the local progressive movement.

“… Our movement is growing,” Lee said, with the Alle­gheny River and the lights at PNC Park as her backdrop. “This is the biggest our coalition has ever been.”

In a post on X, Patel conceded the race.

“While we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight, I’m feeling extremely grateful,” Patel wrote. “To our incredible network of supporters, and to everyone who cast a ballot today. Thank you. Everything is on the line this November — and the work is just getting started.”

While we didn't get the result we wanted tonight, I'm feeling extremely grateful.

To our incredible network of supporters, and to everyone who cast a ballot today. Thank you.

Everything is on the line this November – and the work is just getting started. pic.twitter.com/L2bW4ngLoM

— Bhavini Patel (@PatelForPA) April 24, 2024

Lee joked about how much earlier her victory speech was this year compared to 2022, when she won by about 1,000 votes and the race wasn’t called until the early morning.

In a 15-minute speech, Lee passionately spoke about how her victory is more proof that the district can stand up for marginalized people and progressive demands, like environmental justice, peace in Palestine and labor rights.

“We have rejected in this district that you can’t be a bold progressive in Western Pennsylvania,” Lee said.

Allegheny County makes up 90% of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, which also includes sections of Westmoreland County.

The progressive incumbent also won in more conservative Westmoreland County. She earned 5,140 votes to Patel’s 4,434.

Lee will face Republican James Hayes in November. Hayes had no opponent in the primary.

Summer Lee takes the stage in front of a crowd of supporters in Downtown Pittsburgh. She wins re-election in the PA-12 race that won’t be that close. pic.twitter.com/UwVnDCsmuz

— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) April 24, 2024

The region’s marquee matchup featuring the freshman lawmaker battling to keep her seat was the most contentious primary in the Pittsburgh region in an otherwise ho-hum election cycle featuring numerous uncontested races.

Lee, 36, first entered the Pittsburgh political scene in 2018, riding a massive blue wave to victory in the Pennsylvania House thanks to a grassroots, progressive reaction to the election of former President Donald Trump.

Four years later, she switched Harrisburg for Washington, D.C., after being elected to the U.S. House, taking over the seat long held by Mike Doyle, the veteran Democratic congressman, who retired.

Lee is the first Black woman from Pennsylvania to hold federal office and is one of the most progressive members of Congress.

Patel, 30, aligned herself more with traditional Democrats in the region, portraying herself as more mainstream while painting Lee as too far left.

Early in the campaign, Patel criticized Lee over her calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Lee took local heat last fall for her stances, but the race shifted as the months went on.

Lee spent most of the campaign’s late stages standing on her record. She touted her work in helping to secure $1.2 billion in federal investments for her district, which she said was due to strong relationships with President Joe Biden’s administration.

In the closing stretch, as public sentiment changed during Israel’s siege of Gaza and Democratic voters became more sympathetic toward Palestinians, Lee gained momentum.

The contest spurred heavy ad spending — $2.5 million, according to Virginia-based firm AdImpact.

Expenditures on ads boosting Lee were double the spending to support Patel.

Lee outraised Patel in campaign contributions by more than a 3-to-1 margin and also benefited from support from national progressive groups. The Working Families Party spent $318,000 in ads supporting Lee.

Moderate PAC, a political group largely funded by Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvania’s richest person and a conservative billionaire, spent $574,000 in pro-Patel ads.

The 12th District includes Pittsburgh, parts of southern and eastern Allegheny County, the Mon Valley and Westmore­land County communities such as Murrysville, North Huntingdon, Penn Township, Sewickley Township, Jeannette and parts of Hempfield.