U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins rally for Summer Lee in Pittsburgh

Left-wing firebrand U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among the arsenal of high-profile politicians who rallied Sunday for Congressional Democratic incumbent Summer Lee, whose 12th District primary against Bhavini Patel has become a hot-button race.

Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat who represents parts of New York City, joined Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones at the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers headquarters on the city’s South Side. They had impassioned pleas for the packed crowd to recruit votes for Lee ahead of Tuesday’s election.

“Pittsburgh, what you’re doing on Tuesday is sending a message to the country and to the 1 percent to say this isn’t working anymore, you’re money isn’t good here anymore,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “They can’t buy this election. We are going to grow our representation and expand it.”

A Mon Valley native, Lee, 36, was first elected in 2018 to the state House and in 2022 became the first Black woman from Pennsylvania to hold federal office.

She has become one of the most progressive members of Congress in her freshman year.

Patel, 30, grew up in Monroeville and currently serves on Edgewood Council.

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

The defining issue between the two candidates appears to be their views on the Israel-Hamas war.

Patel has said that Lee is too far left and too sympathetic to the Palestinians. She has criticized Lee for “not being there for the Jewish community.”

Lee’s votes against pro-Israel resolutions led to criticism from many Jewish voters.

Sunday’s rally didn’t fail to draw attention from those who oppose Lee’s stance.

Susan Zelicoff of Pittsburgh was among a dozen protesters who held signs out front of Lee’s rally along 19th Street.

“I’m opposed to the way Lee has been voting,” she said. “I think it enables Hamas to maintain control and provoke havoc and terror in Israel.”

Others took the chance to support Lee and hear more about her vision.

Monica Malik of Sewickley brought her pre-teen children to the rally because she wanted them to see the Democratic process first-hand, she said.

“I want to plant the seeds for them to see how they can make effective changes,” Malik said.

On critical policies apart from international relations, Lee and Patel don’t appear to be too far apart.

Both support traditional Democratic priorities, such as taking action on climate change and raising the minimum wage. Both back access to abortion, organized labor and LGBTQ rights.

Harrison resident and Highlands School Board member Eli Majocha said he supports Lee’s progressive stance. He likes that Lee speaks her truth, Majocha said.

“I like where she stands on climate justice and living wages,” he said.

BJ Samson of Highland Park said that Lee comes to the table with fortitude and truth-telling.

“With my background in human resources, I wouldn’t hire anyone but her,” Samson said.

Innamorato touted Lee’s help to secure $1.2 billion in federal investments for her district, saying “this money is life-changing and works to repair barriers, reconnect communities and address systemic inequities.

“We can’t do what we need to do in Allegheny County without Summer Lee in office.”

When Lee took the stage, she told the crowd to fight against “old, rusting racist tropes.

“We have been demonstrating what it looks like to govern from a place of love. We lift up the many, not the money.”