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D Democratic · Incumbent · U.S. House 12, Pennsylvania · Nov 3, 2026

Summer
Lee

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania's 12th District, first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
26
positions
12
endorsements
6
summerforpa.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponent James Hayes R Compare race →

Background

Summer Lee is the Democratic U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, serving since January 2023. She was born and raised in the Mon Valley — specifically in North Braddock and Swissvale — and attended Woodland Hills High School before earning a B.A. in journalism from Pennsylvania State University (2009) and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law (2015). [1, 3, 12, 13]

Before her election to Congress, Lee worked as a field organizer for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in 2016, served as a student attorney in Howard University School of Law's Civil Rights Clinic, and was involved in labor organizing including the Fight for $15 campaign. She was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018 and served from 2019 until she resigned ahead of her congressional swearing-in in January 2023. [1, 3, 12]

Lee was sworn in to Congress on January 3, 2023, making history as the first Black woman elected to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress.gov lists her as serving from 2023 to the present, and she is the incumbent candidate for the November 3, 2026 general election for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. [2, 4]

At a glance

Party
Democratic · Incumbent
Running for
U.S. House · District 12, Pennsylvania
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
U.S. Representative, Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District
Website
summerforpa.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 6
    news
    Axios reports Lee wants a data center construction pause

    Axios covered Lee's push for a moratorium on new AI data center construction, expanding on her CMU summit remarks and her cosponsorship of the AI Data Center Moratorium Act.

    Summer Lee wants a data center pause · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 2
    news
    Lee calls for AI data center moratorium at CMU summit

    At a Carnegie Mellon University summit, Lee called for stronger community protections around AI infrastructure expansion. She highlighted her cosponsorship of the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, which would pause new data-center construction until Congress establishes federal safeguards covering electricity, water costs, labor standards, and environmental impacts.

    At CMU Summit, Rep. Summer Lee Calls for Stronger ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 19
    news
    Lee calls for Democratic unity ahead of 2026 midterms in Reuters report

    Reuters quoted Lee urging party unity: 'Whether you are a progressive or an establishment Democrat or a conservative Democrat, we all have a vested interest in getting every single person over the finish line in November.'

    Lingering feuds threaten Democrats' bid to reclaim US ... · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sep 18
    news
    Lee joins PA Democrats demanding Moshannon detention center financial records

    Lee joined Pennsylvania Democrats seeking financial records from the Moshannon detention center, citing reports of alleged retaliation against people who spoke out about conditions there.

    Rep. Summer Lee Joins PA Democrats Demanding Answers on Moshannon Detention Center Finances · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 17
    news
    Lee discusses Black political power and money in politics

    Rep. Summer Lee spoke publicly about Black political power and the role of money in politics.

    Rep. Summer Lee Talks Black Political Power & Money In ... · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 17
    endorsement
    CWA District 2-13 endorses Lee for PA-12

    The Communications Workers of America's District 2-13 listed Summer Lee as endorsed for Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. She also received backing from the Allegheny County Labor Council, Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC.

    2026 Pennsylvania Election Endorsements · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Jul 15
    filing
    Lee's Q2 FEC filing shows $105,200 raised, $1.6M cash on hand

    Lee's second-quarter FEC filing reported $105,200 raised, $158,500 spent, and approximately $1.6 million cash on hand as of June 30. A separate tracker rounded her cycle totals to $1.5 million raised and $829,000 spent.

    Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District 2026: Lee vs. Hayes | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. May 1
    filing
    Lee wins Democratic primary, defeating challenger Will Parker

    Lee advanced as the Democratic nominee after defeating primary challenger Will Parker. The general-election matchup was set as Lee versus Hayes.

    US House 12th District election: Hayes v. Lee | 90.5 WESA · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  9. Nov 1, 2024
    news
    Lee defeats Hayes by ~13 points in 2024 general election

    Incumbent Summer Lee defeated Republican James Hayes by approximately 13 percentage points in the 2024 general election, setting up a 2026 rematch.

    US House 12th District election: Hayes v. Lee | 90.5 WESA · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Bend the Arc: Jewish Action PAC organization
    Lists Lee among its 2026 House endorsees; no individual endorsement date given. bendthearc.us
  • National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) union
    Lists Lee as a 2026 endorsed candidate for PA-12; no date given on the Pennsylvania page. nteu.org
  • MoveOn organization
    Endorsed Lee for PA-12; endorsement page published September 21, 2026. front.moveon.org · Sep 21, 2026
  • Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters union
    Endorsed Lee for PA-12 as part of its 2026 congressional slate. teamster.org · Aug 17, 2026
  • American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union
    Included Lee in its slate of endorsed Pennsylvania U.S. House candidates. afge.org · Jul 14, 2026
  • PAL PAC organization
    Endorsed Lee; PAC described as committed to supporting congressional candidates who champion Palestinian rights, per Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle report. jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com · Feb 20, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$1.47M
Spent
$829K
Cash on hand
$1.65M

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H2PA18200(opens in a new tab)

Sources 26

  1. [1] Environmental Justice | Congresswoman Summer Lee(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
  2. [2] Affordable Housing - Congresswoman Summer Lee(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
  3. [3] Gun Violence Prevention(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
  4. [4] Learn about political giving through Bend the Arc's PAC(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  5. [5] Pennsylvania(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  6. [6] Summer Lee wants a data center pause(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  7. [7] US House 12th District election: Hayes v. Lee | 90.5 WESA(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  8. [8] At CMU Summit, Rep. Summer Lee Calls for Stronger ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
  9. [9] Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District 2026: Lee vs. Hayes | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
  10. [10] Workers' Rights(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
  11. [11] Summer Lee : MoveOn: People-Powered Progress(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
  12. [12] Lingering feuds threaten Democrats' bid to reclaim US ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
  13. [13] Rep. Summer Lee Joins PA Democrats Demanding Answers on Moshannon Detention Center Finances(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
  14. [14] 2026 Pennsylvania Election Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  15. [15] Rep. Summer Lee Talks Black Political Power & Money In ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  16. [16] Press Releases | Congresswoman Summer Lee - House.gov(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  17. [17] Press Releases | Congresswoman Summer Lee(opens in a new tab) Sep 5, 2026
  18. [18] Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters Announce 2026 ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 17, 2026
  19. [19] Rep. Summer Lee Joins CBC Members and Black Mayors to ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 31, 2026
  20. [20] Rep. Summer Lee Condemns Republican Plan to Further Dismantle ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 16, 2026
  21. [21] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Slate of U.S. ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 14, 2026
  22. [22] Democracy + Voting Rights(opens in a new tab) May 3, 2026
  23. [23] Rep. Summer Lee endorsed by new pro-Palestinian PAC(opens in a new tab) Feb 20, 2026
  24. [24] Rep. Summer Lee Applauds House Passage of Extension to ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 8, 2026
  25. [25] Money for War (and Billionaire Tax Cheats) but Can't Feed the Poor(opens in a new tab) Apr 4, 2025
  26. [26] Congresswoman Summer Lee Statement on TX Court Ruling on ...(opens in a new tab) Dec 13, 2023
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