SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
State Rep. Summer Lee is running in the Democratic primary to represent Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. (Photo: Summer Lee for Congress)
Progressive Summer Lee Nabs 25-Point Lead Over Corporate Lawyer in US House Primary: Poll
The former labor organizer is running to represent Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District.
Apr 13, 2022
With just over a month to go until Pennsylvania's primary election, progressive state Rep. Summer Lee holds a 25-point lead over her two Democratic opponents in the race to succeed Rep. Mike Doyle in the 12th Congressional District.
"It's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C."
In a poll commissioned by EMILY's List, which supports pro-choice women running for office, 38% of respondents said they supported Lee, while corporate attorney Steve Irwin and University of Pittsburgh professor Jerry Dickinson received 13% and 7% of the vote, respectively.
Lee was elected to the state House in 2018 after working as a labor organizer with the Fight for $15 movement and leading voter mobilization efforts for the state Democratic Party. As a legislator, she has stopped a fracking proposal in her home district and supported proposals to provide healthcare to striking workers and prohibit late fees on rent payments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She supports Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and free, universal pre-kindergarten.
"Summer Lee is the bold and inspiring leader we need to secure victory of the must-win open seat," Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY's List, said in a statement. "With five weeks to go until the Democratic primary, it's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C. and make history by electing the state's first Black congresswoman."
Along with EMILY's List, Lee has garnered endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Justice Democrats, the Sunrise Movement, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), among other groups.
\u201cSo proud to have @PramilaJayapal's endorsement!\n\nSharing an organizing background, she understands that people power is the backbone of delivering on progressive priorities.\n\nAs @USProgressives chair, she's built that power in DC & I'm ready to join her in the fight in Congress.\u201d— Summer Lee (@Summer Lee) 1649433821
Irwin, who came in second in the poll taken between March 26 and 31, has received funding from corporate lobbyists and the CEO of a fossil fuel company, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In contrast with Lee's background as a labor organizer, Irwin has defended companies against fair wage and discrimination lawsuits as well as Americans With Disabilities Act claims. He is currently a lawyer with Leech Tishman, a firm which has provided union-busting services to companies.
"Voters need to read and see that Steve Irwin built his career as a corporate lawyer putting corporations and profits first," Lee's website says.
Irwin is trailing Lee, according to the recent poll, despite leading the field in fundraising.
"Summer Lee can win," Winnie Wong, former advisor to Sanders, tweeted last week.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
With just over a month to go until Pennsylvania's primary election, progressive state Rep. Summer Lee holds a 25-point lead over her two Democratic opponents in the race to succeed Rep. Mike Doyle in the 12th Congressional District.
"It's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C."
In a poll commissioned by EMILY's List, which supports pro-choice women running for office, 38% of respondents said they supported Lee, while corporate attorney Steve Irwin and University of Pittsburgh professor Jerry Dickinson received 13% and 7% of the vote, respectively.
Lee was elected to the state House in 2018 after working as a labor organizer with the Fight for $15 movement and leading voter mobilization efforts for the state Democratic Party. As a legislator, she has stopped a fracking proposal in her home district and supported proposals to provide healthcare to striking workers and prohibit late fees on rent payments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She supports Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and free, universal pre-kindergarten.
"Summer Lee is the bold and inspiring leader we need to secure victory of the must-win open seat," Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY's List, said in a statement. "With five weeks to go until the Democratic primary, it's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C. and make history by electing the state's first Black congresswoman."
Along with EMILY's List, Lee has garnered endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Justice Democrats, the Sunrise Movement, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), among other groups.
\u201cSo proud to have @PramilaJayapal's endorsement!\n\nSharing an organizing background, she understands that people power is the backbone of delivering on progressive priorities.\n\nAs @USProgressives chair, she's built that power in DC & I'm ready to join her in the fight in Congress.\u201d— Summer Lee (@Summer Lee) 1649433821
Irwin, who came in second in the poll taken between March 26 and 31, has received funding from corporate lobbyists and the CEO of a fossil fuel company, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In contrast with Lee's background as a labor organizer, Irwin has defended companies against fair wage and discrimination lawsuits as well as Americans With Disabilities Act claims. He is currently a lawyer with Leech Tishman, a firm which has provided union-busting services to companies.
"Voters need to read and see that Steve Irwin built his career as a corporate lawyer putting corporations and profits first," Lee's website says.
Irwin is trailing Lee, according to the recent poll, despite leading the field in fundraising.
"Summer Lee can win," Winnie Wong, former advisor to Sanders, tweeted last week.
With just over a month to go until Pennsylvania's primary election, progressive state Rep. Summer Lee holds a 25-point lead over her two Democratic opponents in the race to succeed Rep. Mike Doyle in the 12th Congressional District.
"It's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C."
In a poll commissioned by EMILY's List, which supports pro-choice women running for office, 38% of respondents said they supported Lee, while corporate attorney Steve Irwin and University of Pittsburgh professor Jerry Dickinson received 13% and 7% of the vote, respectively.
Lee was elected to the state House in 2018 after working as a labor organizer with the Fight for $15 movement and leading voter mobilization efforts for the state Democratic Party. As a legislator, she has stopped a fracking proposal in her home district and supported proposals to provide healthcare to striking workers and prohibit late fees on rent payments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She supports Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and free, universal pre-kindergarten.
"Summer Lee is the bold and inspiring leader we need to secure victory of the must-win open seat," Laphonza Butler, president of EMILY's List, said in a statement. "With five weeks to go until the Democratic primary, it's clear the voters of PA-12 are fired up and ready to send a working-class champion from their community to Washington, D.C. and make history by electing the state's first Black congresswoman."
Along with EMILY's List, Lee has garnered endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Justice Democrats, the Sunrise Movement, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), among other groups.
\u201cSo proud to have @PramilaJayapal's endorsement!\n\nSharing an organizing background, she understands that people power is the backbone of delivering on progressive priorities.\n\nAs @USProgressives chair, she's built that power in DC & I'm ready to join her in the fight in Congress.\u201d— Summer Lee (@Summer Lee) 1649433821
Irwin, who came in second in the poll taken between March 26 and 31, has received funding from corporate lobbyists and the CEO of a fossil fuel company, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In contrast with Lee's background as a labor organizer, Irwin has defended companies against fair wage and discrimination lawsuits as well as Americans With Disabilities Act claims. He is currently a lawyer with Leech Tishman, a firm which has provided union-busting services to companies.
"Voters need to read and see that Steve Irwin built his career as a corporate lawyer putting corporations and profits first," Lee's website says.
Irwin is trailing Lee, according to the recent poll, despite leading the field in fundraising.
"Summer Lee can win," Winnie Wong, former advisor to Sanders, tweeted last week.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.