State Rep. Summer Lee, a former 'insurgent,' faces Democratic challenger backed by establishment

It’s been nearly two years since Summer Lee surprised Allegheny County Democrats by beating longtime incumbent Paul Costa for the District 34 state House seat.

A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Lee built her campaign on a platform of progressive issues: advocating for a $15 minimum wage, opposing fracking and the construction of the Shell cracker plant in Beaver County, pushing for equitable funding for public schools and eliminating the school-to-prison pipeline.

The lawyer, activist and community organizer — who at the time was a newcomer to state politics — also garnered a reputation for breaking from and challenging the party establishment. In turn, the local Democratic Party establishment has so far withheld official support.

Lee, who took two-thirds of the vote in the May 2018 primary and, months later, was sworn in as the first black woman to serve in the state legislature from Southwestern Pennsylvania, said her reelection campaign will take on a slightly different tone.

“I’m not the insurgent candidate anymore,” Lee said. “I’m not the new shiny thing. So we’re running on our record at this point.”

Lee will face a challenge in the April 2020 primary from Chris Roland, a Democrat from North Braddock who has served on the North Braddock Borough Council for 12 years and works as a supervisor at Round Hill Park with the Allegheny County Parks Department.

Roland, 35, launched his campaign in November. His social media and campaign website pages show him with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, the region’s leading Democratic Party elected official.

Roland says that he supports “Gov. Wolf’s progressive agenda. Being able to build bridges and bring investment to our communities here is so vital.”

Fitzgerald told the Trib he supports Roland.

Lee, 32, who grew up in the North Braddock and Rankin neighborhoods and now lives in Swissvale, launched her reelection campaign Jan. 20 in a Regent Square pub. Along with campaign volunteers and supporters, she was joined by state Reps. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, and Ed Gainey, D-Lincoln-Lemington. Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Lawrenceville, who also defeated a Costa (Dom, the cousin of Paul) in the May 2018 primary with Democratic Socialist support, was present as well.

Allegheny County Council members Bethany Hallam, D-Ross, and Olivia Bennett, D-Northview Heights also came out to support. The two political newcomers were both elected to last year with the help of Lee’s UNITE political action committee. UNITE is endorsing four state House candidates during the April primary, including Lee.

District 34 includes sections of the City of Pittsburgh, as well as Wilkins Township and the boroughs of Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, Edgewood, Forest Hills, Homestead, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and West Homestead.

Roland picked up an endorsement from the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council on Feb. 8, while Lee was endorsed by the Steel City Stonewall Democrats on Feb. 9.

Both Lee and Roland are seeking the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement, which will be decided Feb. 16.

Lee said her campaign is ready for the challenge.

“May the best person win,” Lee said. “May the best beliefs win in this district. But I do believe I offer a perspective, I believe that I offer values. I believe that I offer a different way of doing politics that resonates with people.”

Lee’s record includes sponsoring legislation to support incarcerated women, establish practices for trauma-informed care in prisons and improve police accountability, she said. Lee was a primary sponsor during the 2019-20 legislative session for three bills addressing those issues. Each remain in the judiciary committee, according to Pennsylvania General Assembly records.

She has co-sponsored about 100 other bills and resolutions so far during her two years in office.

Lee said she is also working on legislation with lawmakers in Philadelphia to invest more money in schools that need infrastructure upgrades.

“We have so many schools in our commonwealth where kids are going to school with asbestos, with lead, with faulty heating and cooling systems,” she said.

Roland, like Lee, grew up in the area and attended Woodland Hills High School. Before running for borough council, Roland said he helped out with clean-up days and other community events.

“Being able to help folks in our community, getting them answers when they don’t know who to call or what to do, it’s just very humbling to be able to help people,” Roland said of his decision to run for state office.

Roland said that as a councilman, he’s worked with state representatives and county leadership to secure funds for local parks and playgrounds.

“I never voted to raise taxes in the borough,” he said.

He has also been part of efforts to work with the state to evaluate the need for a regional police force that would cover the boroughs of East Pittsburgh, Braddock, North Braddock, Rankin and Whitaker.

“I’ve worked hard always with the residents in mind always to do those things, and I think that’s a good foundation for me,” Roland said.

If elected, Roland said he wants to work on reining in charter schools and attracting families back to traditional public schools — an issue that has impacted the Pittsburgh, Steel Valley and Woodland Hills School Districts, he said — as well as growing the local job market.

Both candidates said they plan to monitor air quality concerns in the Mon Valley.

The U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Plant is located in Braddock, within District 34 boundaries.

Residents throughout the district and across the Mon Valley have spoken out about pollution from Edgar Thomson, along with the Clairton Coke Works, in recent months.

“We’re definitely concerned about it,” Roland said. “I live four blocks from the mill. I drive by it every day.”

During his time as a North Braddock councilman, U.S. Steel has donated trees and funding for playgrounds in the borough, Roland said.

Communication with Edgar Thomson managers has also improved in recent years, he added.

“It shouldn’t take people screaming. It shouldn’t take people standing up and rising up and fighting back for a corporation to listen to its neighbors,” said Lee.

Lee campaigned during the 2018 election on environmental issues, including improving air quality and opposing fracking at the Edgar Thomson site.

“What we’re trying to ask U.S. Steel, or UPMC, or whoever it might be, is that when they come into our community, that they respect it,” Lee said. “That they respect us. That they care enough for us that they say, my profit is not more important than your health, that my profit is not more important than your roads, is not more important than your being. So that’s what we’re asking for at the end of the day.”