Bernie Sanders endorses Summer Lee for reelection

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, announced Wednesday he is endorsing U.S. Rep. Summer Lee in her reelection battle.

Sanders has supported Lee, a Democrat from Swissvale, throughout her political career, including rallying for her in Pittsburgh in 2022. Lee is one of the most progressive lawmakers in Congress and has championed many causes similar to Sanders, including environmental justice, workers’ rights and challenging large corporations.

Sanders has long been a leader in the nation’s progressive movement and gained popularity during his unsuccessful presidential runs.

He said conservative political groups are placing attack ads against Lee because “she stands up to union-busting CEOs, corporate polluters and billionaire tax cheats.”

Right-wing SuperPACs are once again targeting @SummerForPA because she stands up to union-busting CEOs, corporate polluters, and billionaire tax cheats.

I couldn’t be prouder to once again endorse her. Chip in to her campaign here: https://t.co/Rhmi6kRrFF

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 27, 2024

Lee has long been a target of right-leaning political groups. A political group funded by conservative Philadelphia billionaire Jeffrey Yass is behind ads claiming Lee is a “media star of the far left” and backing an “extremist socialist agenda.”

In 2022, the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent millions of dollars in negative attack ads in an attempt to defeat Lee. The ads claimed she didn’t support President Joe Biden and other Democratic priorities.

For her part, Lee has spent much of the past several months highlighting her alliance with the Biden administration, including hosting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. She also has garnered backing from Democratic Party leaders and establishment figures such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey.

Lee is touting a slew of union endorsements on Wednesday, including labor groups that didn’t back her in 2022, as evidence she is straddling a line between progressive and establishment Democrats.

Lee represents Pennsylvania’s 12th District, which includes Pittsburgh, eastern Allegheny County suburbs including Plum, the Mon Valley and Westmoreland County communities such as Murrysville, North Huntingdon, Penn Township, Sewickley, Jeannette and parts of Hempfield.

The statewide Pennsylvania AFL-CIO labor council didn’t endorse a candidate in the 2022 primary but is backing Lee this cycle. Angela Ferritto, president of the state AFL-CIO said Wednesday that Lee has been fighting for the rights of workers since she was first elected to Congress in 2022 and she “cares about unions and issues that matter to our members.”

Lee’s opponent, Edgewood Councilwoman Bhavini Patel, has earned several union endorsements as well, including Teamsters Local 341 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 5.

Patel, a Democrat, also has earned endorsements from a local group that backed Lee in 2022: the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club. The club is active in liberal politics and represents members in and around Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Lee secured the endorsement from the larger Allegheny County Democratic Committee this year.

The Israel/Hamas War has become a flashpoint in the 12th District race. Patel has consistently criticized Lee for attacking Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Patel has said Lee’s stances on the war are out of touch with the district’s electorate. Lee has defended her criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and her support of a cease-fire in the conflict.