Pennsylvania Rep. Summer Lee, a member of the progressive Squad, easily defeated her Democratic challenger Bhavini Patel in the primary election. Despite Patel’s attacks on Lee’s support for a ceasefire in Gaza and loyalty to Biden, Lee received praise from Biden himself. Progressives were concerned about outside spending from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, but Lee never faced substantial opposition in this regard. She warned that this playbook of distortion and lies against progressives would likely continue in future elections.
AIPAC had promised to target lawmakers critical of Israel, including Lee, after her condemnation of Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks. However, AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACs did not enter Lee’s race, as the vast majority of Democratic voters had turned against Israel’s Gaza offensive. Lee, a popular incumbent, had significant fundraising and campaign support, making her a formidable opponent against Patel. Patel campaigned heavily on the Israel-Hamas war in Squirrel Hill, accusing Lee of “stoking antisemitism,” but ultimately failed to gain enough traction for a successful challenge.
Patel did receive financial support from Republican billionaire Jeffrey Yass, who funded attack ads against Lee through his super PAC, the Moderate PAC. Yass, reportedly a potential Treasury Secretary in a second Trump White House, tried to hide the extent of his financial support through the PAC. Lee ran ads criticizing Patel for drawing support from Yass, highlighting the influence of Republican donors in the race. Patel distanced herself from Yass’ support, but the ads funded by him continued to attack Lee’s support for Biden’s agenda.
In a high-profile debunking, President Biden praised Rep. Summer Lee at a rally in Pittsburgh, thanking her for her support of his administration. This endorsement highlighted Lee’s alignment with Biden’s agenda, contradicting Patel’s attacks on her loyalty to the President. Despite earlier concerns about outside spending and attacks against her progressive values, Lee emerged victorious in the primary election. She emphasized the importance of clarity in communicating progressive values to voters, stating that when people understand the message clearly, they are more likely to support it.
Moving forward, Lee warned that progressives could continue to face similar tactics of distortion and lies in future election campaigns. She emphasized the need for continued support from Democratic party leaders to defend and promote left-wing incumbents. Despite facing challenges from well-funded opponents and disagreement on issues such as the Israel-Hamas war, Lee’s success in the primary election indicated strong support from her constituents and the progressive movement.
