Summer Lee's campaign rakes in $1M in last quarter, her best showing

Preparing for what could be a tough primary election, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, said she raised $1 million in the last quarter of 2023, putting her on solid financial footing to take on her multiple challengers.

It was Lee’s best fundraising quarter to date and one of the highest fourth-quarter hauls among her peers.

A progressive and first-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Lee has generated passionate support and strong criticism during her first year in Congress, particularly over her stances on the Israel/Gaza war.

She has called for a ceasefire in the conflict, while also advocating for Israeli hostages to be returned home. Her stances have garnered praise from some local groups as well as condemnation from Pittsburgh-area rabbis.

Pro-Israel political groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have criticized Lee. The group spent millions of dollars to try to defeat her in 2022 and has signaled that it is ready to do the same this cycle.

Lee said such groups have deep ties to Republicans and added that the pro-Israel committee has backed over 100 Republican members of Congress. She said she is proud to see the progressive movement respond with large fundraising totals.

“Our grassroots people-powered movement has responded loud and clear,” Lee said in a statement. “I am so proud of the multigenerational, mulitracial movement we have built in Western Pennsylvania to protect and expand our democracy.”

The Lee campaign said 90% of her fourth quarter fundraising came from individual donations of $250 or less.

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

The district is considered safe for Democrats and has over twice as many registered Democratic voters compared to Republicans.

The Democratic primary has already attracted two challengers: Edgewood borough Councilwoman Bhavini Patel and Laurie MacDonald, CEO of advocacy group Center for Victims.

Patel announced raising more than $310,000 in the fourth quarter and has earned some local endorsements from Operating Engineers Local #66 and Steamfitters union, two influential local labor unions that have opposed Lee in the past.

MacDonald has not yet announced any fundraising totals.

Lee’s fundraising figures places her among other progressive members facing Democratic challengers who have raised at least $1 million in the fourth quarter. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., announced she raised $1.6 million for the last three months of 2023.

The race for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District is gearing up to be one to watch in 2024. Lee won the district’s primary by only about 1,000 votes in 2022 and then went on to win the general election easily.

Lee has also been shoring up support among Democratic leadership. Last week House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York endorsed Lee, as did other high-ranking Democrats.

The Lee campaign said it has more than $1.1 million cash on hand.

Patel and MacDonald have yet to report their total cash on hand.

Progressive political groups, like Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party, have come to Lee’s aid in the past with over $1 million in ad-spending during her 2022 race.

Complete fourth-quarter filings are due at the end of January.