Why an aggressive campaign to take down a progressive Dem failed

In Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, foes of Rep. Summer Lee made an aggressive effort to unseat the progressive Democratic congresswoman via a primary challenge from Bhavini Patel — a member of Western Pennsylvania's Edgewood Borough Council.

A lot of money was spent trying to get Patel nominated, but when the primary was held on Tuesday, April 23, Lee defeated Patel by 21 percent. Now, Lee enters the general election and will be taking on Republican nominee James Hayes in November.

The Hill's Hanna Trudo explains, "Lee was a top target this cycle of Democrats and Republicans alike looking to oust the left-wing congresswoman from her Western Pennsylvania seat. Her positions on the Israel-Hamas War, including calling for a cease-fire throughout the conflict and expressing pro-Palestinian sentiments, made her more vulnerable than other House progressives."

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Trudo notes that Lee's "top source of attack" during the primary "was Jeffrey Yass, a billionaire GOP donor who spent heavily to knock down Lee through a super PAC supporting Patel."

But Lee, according to Trudo, "brought in $2.5 million" and enjoyed a broad range of support among fellow Democrats.

The left wing of her party supported her, including Justice Democrats and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York City. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, campaigned for Lee as well.

But the congresswoman was also supported by Democratic establishment figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and centrist Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pennsylvania).

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Pennsylvania's other U.S. senator, John Fetterman, campaigned for Lee despite their policy differences on the Israel-Hamas War.

First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022, Lee is often described as part of The Squad — an alliance of progressive Democratic congresswomen that also includes Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Rasheeda Tlaib of Michigan, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

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Read The Hill's full report at this link.