Summer Lee of the 'Squad' beats back primary challenge

Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, the first member of the progressive “Squad” to face a primary challenger this cycle, successfully fended off her opponent in her Pittsburgh-based district on Tuesday.

Although it was not the only factor in the race, the Israel-Hamas war undoubtedly hovered over the contest. Lee has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in its war with Hamas and was among the first lawmakers to call for a cease-fire. She was seen as potentially vulnerable to a primary challenge when pro-Israel groups began to threaten heavy outside spending.

But that spending never materialized against Lee — and she defeated Bhavini Patel, a local council member, in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. After putting in millions of dollars opposing Lee in the midterms and vowing to drop $100 million targeting candidates the group views as anti-Israel this cycle, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee stayed out of the contest this time around. Such spending would have benefited Patel — whom Lee vastly outraised and outspent — although it would have only fueled the criticisms from Lee’s campaign that Republican donors were meddling in the race. (Some of AIPAC’s most prominent donors are Republicans, though notable Democrats also give to the group.)

Lee also earned high-profile endorsements during this campaign — not only from progressive politicians and organizations but also from House Democratic leadership — and had a strong fundraising apparatus.

Patel did receive some support from Moderate PAC, a group heavily funded by GOP megadonor Jeff Yass that supported Democratic Reps. Don Davis (N.C.) and Jared Golden (Maine) last cycle. The group spent more than half a million dollars on this race.

The group accused Lee of not fully supporting President Joe Biden in the critical battleground state, echoing criticisms Patel centered in her messaging and that AIPAC deployed in its efforts to defeat Lee in 2022.

Lee pushed back on those accusations, asserting that she can help turn out voters — like younger constituents and voters of color — who may otherwise not be excited to vote in November.

Lee’s win may comfort other progressives facing primary challenges later this year, although heavy investments from deep-pocketed opposition groups could still land in primaries elsewhere in a way it did not in Pittsburgh. AIPAC and Democratic Majority for Israel PAC have already endorsed challengers to Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Cori Bush (Mo.), signifying that they will have a more active role in those primaries. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also faces a contested primary later this year, but those groups have not endorsed any of her challengers.

Lee is poised to cruise to victory come the fall in the deep-blue district, when she’ll face Republican James Hayes.

Another incumbent also survived a primary challenge on Tuesday. Across the state in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick easily won his primary over Mark Houck, an anti-abortion activist who ran to the right of the incumbent. Democrats are still targeting this seat, where Fitzpatrick will face repeat candidate Ashley Ehasz in the fall. The seat will be more difficult for Democrats to flip with the incumbent returning.