1. Summer Lynn Lee was born on November 26,1987 and is an American politician who is the US representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district since 2023.
18 Facts About Summer Lee
1. 2.
Summer Lee campaigned for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primaries after graduating.
3.
Summer Lee challenged incumbent Representative Paul Costa in the Democratic primary for the 34th district in 2018.
4.
In October 2021, Summer Lee announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district after the incumbent representative, Mike Doyle, announced his retirement.
5.
Summer Lee won the Democratic primary election on May 17,2022, defeating rival Steve Irwin.
6.
Summer Lee won the Allegheny County portion of the district by almost 4,500 votes.
7.
Summer Lee simultaneously ran for reelection to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; she was reelected to a third term with little opposition, but was required to resign the seat to assume her new role in the US House, which she did on December 7,2022.
8.
In 2024, Summer Lee faced a primary challenge from Edgewood Councilwoman Bhavini Patel, who ran towards the political center compared to Summer Lee.
9.
Amid concerns that her criticism of Israel could cost her renomination in a district with a significant Jewish population, Summer Lee cultivated endorsements from prominent Democrats including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Bob Casey Jr.
10.
Ultimately Summer Lee defeated Patel, but unlike Summer Lee fellow progressive Israel critics Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush were defeated for renomination by pro-Israel candidates who, unlike Patel, received backing from the pro-Israel AIPAC.
11.
Summer Lee joined forty other House Democrats in a letter calling on the Biden Administration to use all means possible to preserve FDA approval for Mifepristone and protect access to these treatments nationwide, in response to a ruling by Northern District of Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk.
12.
Summer Lee was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.
13.
Summer Lee was the only no-vote among western Pennsylvania house members.
14.
Summer Lee had previously decried Republicans' willingness to take the country "to the brink of economic catastrophe" to win budget concessions.
15.
Summer Lee is an original co-sponsor of the DERAIL Act, which would put stricter federal rail safety regulations in place that were rolled back during the Trump administration.
16.
Summer Lee voted against an embargo on sending American technology to Iran and a resolution requesting the European Union designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
17.
On June 13,2023, Summer Lee was one of 13 representatives who voted against a bill mandating the Biden administration appoint a special envoy for the Abraham Accords.
18.
Summer Lee has instead voiced support for a ceasefire in the wake of Israel's military campaign against Hamas, co-sponsoring an opposing resolution demanding a ceasefire in the conflict.