Politics & Government

Progressive PA State Rep. Summer Lee Launches Congressional Bid

Lee is vying for the seat being vacated by the retiring Mike Doyle.

(PA House)

BRADDOCK, PA — Progressive Democratic state Rep. Summer Lee launched her congressional campaign Tuesday with a social media blitz,video, news conference and the backing of Ed Gainey, likely to be elected Pittsburgh's next mayor on Nov. 2.

Lee, 33, of the suburban Pittsburgh community of Swissvale, also has the support of the Justice Democrats, according to CNN. The group aided New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's bid for Congress and has backed a number of other leftist candidates.

"My hometown was supposed to be the American dream. Our labor made the steel that built America but when the mills left, we paid the price," Lee said. "Now I’m bringing the fight I’ve been in my whole life to Washington - to win a Green New Deal, Medicare For All, and racial justice."

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Lee will be running for the 18th Congressional District seat that Rep. Mike Doyle said Monday that he will retire from next year after nearly three decades on Capitol Hill. The district includes Pittsburgh and 53 smaller communities in Allegheny County, but its configuration will change next year when congressional redistricting occurs.

Lee's campaign kickoff event was held in Braddock, the small old mill town east of Pittsburgh that she represents and was the political springboard for John Fetterman. He was the mayor here before being elected Pennsylvania lieutenant governor and is now running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Republican Pat Toomey.

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Among the supporters who spoke at Lee's campaign announcement was state Rep. Ed Gainey, the Democratic nominee for Pittsburgh mayor and the overwhelming favorite to be elected next month.

Lee is a Woodland Hills High School graduate. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Penn State and a law degree from Howard University. She is serving her second term in the state House.

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