Campaign cash flows in for Summer Lee, other progressives, amid Middle East stance

Money is surging into the campaigns of progressive lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, who are facing competitive races and have been outspoken in calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Federal campaign filings show Lee, D-Swissvale, raised over $1 million during the the last three months of 2023. More than 90% came from individuals, the rest from political committees.

Lee’s fundraising haul was the largest of any U.S. House representative from Pennsylvania during the fourth quarter and came as she vigorously condemned the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza.

Lee, who has often aligned herself with other left-wing members of the U.S. House, was one of the first in Congress to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. She has voted against pro-Israel resolutions because they fail to acknowledge the war’s impact on innocent Palestinians, United Nations humanitarian aid workers, journalists and others. She has also condemned Hamas and called for the terrorist group to return Israeli hostages.

Dozens of Pittsburgh-area rabbis have criticized Lee for her ceasefire stances, and pro-Israel political groups are gearing up to try to defeat her this election cycle.

Like Lee, other high-profile House progressives who have voted similarly on resolutions related to the war are facing challengers and raking in donations, mostly from individuals.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., raised more than $3.7 million; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., took in nearly $1.6 million; and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., generated more than $1.3 million.

Lee is facing two Democratic opponents in the 12th District primary: Edgewood Councilwoman Bhavini Patel and Laurie MacDonald, CEO of advocacy group Center for Victims.

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

Patel raised more than $311,000 in the fourth quarter, nearly all of which came from individuals.

MacDonald announced her candidacy in January, after the fourth quarter fundraising period. She had nothing to report.

Lee has nearly $1.2 million cash on hand compared to Patel’s $238,000.

But the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee — which opposed Lee in 2022 and spent heavily on negative ads targeting her — also raised millions of dollars last quarter and is signaling it will again put money into defeating Lee and others.

The group raised more than $35 million at the end of last year, and has more than $40 million cash on hand as it prepares to fund challengers.

The 12th District is considered a safe seat for Democrats, who hold a 2-1 voter registration advantage over Republicans. Any competitive race is likely to happen during the primary election in April.

James Hayes, a Republican candidate in the 12th District, raised only $2,100 in the fourth quarter.

17th District fundraising

Both candidates in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, a swing seat held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, raised large sums from political committees.

Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, took in more than $461,000 in donations during the fourth quarter. About $116,000 came from political committees, while more than $345,000 came from individuals.

His challenger, state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, raised over $203,000 in the fourth quarter, which was split almost evenly between individuals and political committees.

The 17th District includes all of Beaver County, as well as suburban communities in Allegheny County’s Allegheny Valley, North Hills, and several boroughs just east of Pittsburgh.

Deluzio has a large advantage in cash reserves over Mercuri, with about $986,000 cash on hand — more than triple his opponent.