Summer Lee wins Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-12th District) won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee (ACDC) at its meeting on Sunday, besting challenger Bhavini Patel by a vote of 440 to 299.

“It’s a joy and an honor to receive this overwhelming endorsement from the Allegheny County Democratic Committee — and I want to thank each and every one of our volunteers and supporters whose unmatched energy and enthusiasm made this possible,” Lee said in a statement after the vote. “Thanks to them, our coalition is bigger than ever. Today’s endorsement is a reflection of the tireless work we’ve done to deliver for Allegheny County during my first year in Congress–from delivering over $1.2 billion federal dollars to helping more than 1,700 constituents with everything from potholes and tax returns to veterans benefits.”

Morgan Overton, ACDC vice chair said Lee’s endorsement signaled that the majority of the committee believed in her leadership. “She is an unapologetic champion of all of our voices across all intersections, and has consistently demonstrated this as a core value,” Overton said in a statement. “I also believe that is what voters are hungry for in a pivotal year where democracy is on the line up and down the ballot. I think today will contribute to the energy that will be necessary to get us to the primary and transcend to the general.”

“This decisive statement by Committee members in Pa-12 is directly related both to changes happening within the committee itself and to the hard work Congresswoman Lee has put in to serve our community,” LeeAnn Younger, City Chair of the ACDC said in a statement. “The incredible impact of her first year in office is undeniable and today’s vote reflects that.”

In past elections, the endorsement of the ACDC has eluded Lee, most recently in 2022 when she came in second to challenger Steve Irwin for its endorsement for the 12th District seat. The committee also didn’t endorse the incumbent Lee in 2020 when she handily beat her primary opponent defending her state House seat.

Lee raised more than any other member of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation in the fourth quarter, at just over $1 million, 90% of which her campaign said were small-dollar donations. Last month, she received endorsements from the top U.S. House Democratic leadership, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Whip Katherine Clark (MA-15), and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33)