Democrat · Pennsylvania's 12th District · 2026
Summer Lee
Lee grew up in the Mon Valley with a single mother and became the first in her family to finish college.
Biography
When Summer Lee arrived in Congress, she and fellow newcomer Delia Ramirez shared a Washington rental to help manage housing costs there and back home.1 Raised by a single mother, she has described herself as first generation in college and law school.2
She grew up in the Mon Valley and attended Woodland Hills public schools.3 She earned a journalism degree at Penn State in 2009 and a law degree at Howard University School of Law in 2015.4 Her legal training included internships with the District of Columbia attorney general and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and work as a student attorney in Howard's Civil Rights Clinic.4
Lee helped organize a 2017 school board campaign in Woodland Hills before seeking office herself.3 She served in Pennsylvania's House from 2019 through 2022.4 Her 2022 congressional election made her Pennsylvania's first Black congresswoman.5 She now serves on Judiciary and Education and Workforce.6
She is an original cosponsor of the 2026 Stop Wall Street Landlords Act, which would remove specified tax advantages for large investors owning single family homes.7 Her current platform includes lowering prescription costs, protecting Medicaid and Social Security, and abolishing ICE.5 She faces Republican James Hayes again in November while seeking a third term.8
Record and controversies
Staff social media complaint
A constituent's July 2026 House ethics complaint alleged that Lee's operations director used official resources and staff time for political advocacy through the Dear White Staffers Instagram account.9 It argued that Lee bore supervisory responsibility, while not alleging she personally operated the account or performed the prohibited campaign work.9 The Free Beacon reported on July 29 that her office did not respond and the Ethics Committee declined to discuss the matter's status.10 A formal committee investigation, finding or later public response was not verified in this review.