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BIOGUIDE L000602 · FEC H2PA18200

Summer Lee

U.S. Representative (since 2023)DINCUMBENT

Race
U.S. House · Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District
Result
Summer Lee, projected winner
Opponent
James Hayes (R)
Research
Basic

Party line17 votes tracked

16With Democrats
1Against
0Didn't vote

Broke with Democrats on

With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.

Said vs. did8 statements · 17 votes

The right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court have gutted our constitutional right to abortion care, and Congress must do everything in its power to protect this fundamental right.

Protect legal access to abortion

Compare statements with votes ›

On the ballotU.S. House · 12

2026-11-03

Summer Lee Dincumbent
James Hayes Rchallenger

Said vs. did

Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.

Protect legal access to abortionSupports
The right-wing extremists on the Supreme Court have gutted our constitutional right to abortion care, and Congress must do everything in its power to protect this fundamental right.

Supports codifying federal abortion rights, repealing the Hyde Amendment, and ending the federal criminalization of abortion; supports expanding the Supreme Court in response to its abortion rulings.[7]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Stricter gun lawsSupports
We need an assault weapons ban, expanded background checks, end protections for corporate gun manufacturers and bold gun-safety legislation

Supports an assault-weapons ban, expanded background checks, and ending legal protections for gun manufacturers.[8]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes
to reiterate her call to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and to abolish ICE

In February 2026 reiterated her call to abolish ICE and urged House members to vote against giving ICE additional funding.[9]

  • NOLaken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22).[10]
  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[11][12]
  • NOSecure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[13]

3 of 3 votes point the same way as the statement

Expand public health coverageSupports
We have so much research and data that shows a Medicare for all, single-payer system will not only allow more folks to get basic healthcare, but it’s significantly cheaper than what we have now.

Called for extending the ACA premium tax credits and for a Medicare for All, single-payer system.[14]

  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[11][12]
  • YESBreaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies.[15]

2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroadSupports
This participation was not authorized by Congress, and it supports strikes that are illegal under U.S. and international law.

In June 2026 urged colleagues to support the Lebanon War Powers Resolution (H.Con.Res.84), saying U.S. participation in Israel's operations in Lebanon was not authorized by Congress.[16]

  • YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[17]
  • YESWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[18]

2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement

Continue U.S. military aid to IsraelOpposes
This bill is urgently needed to stop using our tax dollars to fund Israeli war crimes.

In a June 2026 floor speech on Lebanon, argued that U.S. weapons and logistical support to Israel's military operations should end and that tax dollars should not fund them.[16]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Raise the minimum wageSupports

Cosponsored H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.

Documented position[19]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports

Cosponsored H.R. 8085, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026 (119th Congress), which would impose an annual tax on very large household net worth. Cosponsored H.R. 5427, the Billionaires Income Tax Act (119th Congress), which would tax unrealized gains of the wealthiest taxpayers.

Documented position[20][21]

  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[11][12]

1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

No statement on this issue in our sources.

  • NOSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[22]
Faster transition away from fossil fuels

No statement on this issue in our sources.

  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[11][12]
Broad tariffs on imported goods

No statement on this issue in our sources.

  • YESResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[23]

Biography

Summer Lee is the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th District, first elected in 2022, and won re-election on November 3, 2026. An attorney and organizer from the Mon Valley, she served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2019 until she entered Congress. Her official site lists her committees as Judiciary and Education and Workforce.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Lee was born in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, in 1987 and raised in the Mon Valley, where she attended Woodland Hills public schools.[2][3][24] She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University in 2009 and a J.D. from Howard University in 2015, and she worked as a summer intern with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia.[2]

According to her campaign website, Lee worked as an organizer on voter mobilization for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, including in 2016, and in 2017 led an initiative to change the makeup of the Woodland Hills School Board.[24] She won election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018, defeating a 20-year incumbent in the primary with more than 67% of the vote, according to her campaign website. She served from 2019 and was the first Black woman from Western Pennsylvania in the legislature.[3][24]

Lee was elected to Congress in 2022 and, per her official biography, is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania. She won re-election in 2024, defeating James Hayes, and serves on the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce, according to her official site.[2][3][6] Her official biography says she has worked on getting money out of politics, environmental justice and criminal legal reform, and credits her office with bringing more than $2.7 billion to the district. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary with 81.2% of the vote over William Parker, and lives in Swissvale, according to WESA's 2024 voter guide.[2][3][25] During the campaign, she emphasized reproductive rights, gun-violence prevention, and affordable housing.[6] She won the November 3, 2026 general election with 65.4% of the vote to James Hayes's 34.6%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]

Campaign website ↗

Recent votes

DateParty lineMeasure
2026-06-03With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207
2026-02-11With partyvoted yesResolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210
2026-02-03With partyvoted noConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21
2026-01-08With partyvoted yesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196
2025-12-17With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212
2025-12-10Against partyvoted noNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18
2025-11-18With partyvoted yesEpstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1
2025-11-12With partyvoted noContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2

Showing the 8 most recent of 17 votes.

All 17 recorded votes
DateParty lineMeasure
2026-06-03With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
2026-02-11With partyvoted yesResolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
2026-02-03With partyvoted noConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
2026-01-08With partyvoted yesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
2025-12-17With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
2025-12-10Against partyvoted noNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
2025-11-18With partyvoted yesEpstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
2025-11-12With partyvoted noContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
2025-07-17With partyvoted noCLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
2025-07-17With partyvoted noGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
2025-07-03With partyvoted noOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
2025-06-12With partyvoted noRescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
2025-05-22With partyvoted noOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
2025-04-10With partyvoted noSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
2025-03-11With partyvoted noFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
2025-01-22With partyvoted noLaken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
2023-05-11With partyvoted noSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passageH.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–211 · Republicans 219–2Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record

Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.

  • actionAssigned to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee) and the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the 2025-2026 Congress.[26]
  • actionJoined Reps. Frost and Mfume in pressing the ATF director for answers on Trump administration rollbacks of gun-safety regulations, May 2026.[8]
  • actionElected to the Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, defeating James Hayes.[26]

In their own words

Priorities

  • Says Congress must protect federal abortion rights, repeal the Hyde Amendment, and pass legislation such as the Women's Health Protection Act and the EACH Act.[7]
  • Says gun violence in western Pennsylvania requires both an assault-weapons ban and expanded background checks, as well as investment in underfunded communities to address the root causes of street violence.[8]
Campaign money$1.5M raised · 85% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30

Totals this cycle

Raised$1.5M
Spent$829K
Cash on hand$1.6M

Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.

Who gave

  • Individuals $1.1M
  • PACs & committees $207K

Largest committee contributions

  1. NEA Fund for Children and Public Education PAC$10K
  2. American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E PAC$10K
  3. Machinists Non Partisan Political League of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers PAC$10K
  4. American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education PAC$10K
  5. Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners PAC$10K
  6. United Steelworkers Political Action Fund PAC$10K
  7. Unite Here Tip Campaign Committee PAC$9,250
  8. American Association for Justice Political Action Committee (AAJ PAC) PAC$7,500
  9. Moveon.org Political Action PAC$7,500
  10. National Rural Letter Carriers' Association Political Action Committee PAC$7,500

Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗

Profile: /people/summer-l-lee

Where they stood out

Voted with most of their party on all 471 party-divided votes on file.

Full voting recordHow this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  2. 2.Summer Lee · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.About Summer · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  4. 4.Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  5. 5.Gun Violence Prevention · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  6. 6.Committees · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  7. 7.Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  8. 8.Gun Violence Prevention · Office of Rep. Summer Lee Official record
  9. 9.At ICE Headquarters and Press Conference, Rep. Summer Lee Reiterates Calls to Abolish ICE and Impeach DHS Secretary Noem · Office of Rep. Summer Lee · 2026-02-03 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  14. 14.Rep. Summer Lee Calls for Immediate Extension of ACA Tax Credits During Shadow Hearing · Office of Rep. Summer Lee · 2025-12-02 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  16. 16.Rep. Summer Lee Calls on Congress to Pass Lebanon War Powers Resolution to End Illegal War · Office of Rep. Summer Lee · 2026-06-04 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  19. 19.H.R. 2743, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  20. 20.H.R. 8085, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026 (Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  21. 21.H.R. 5427, the Billionaires Income Tax Act (Billionaires Income Tax Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  24. 24.About Summer · Summer Lee for Congress campaign Candidate's own words
  25. 25.Voter guide to Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election: Hayes v. Lee · 90.5 WESA · 2024 News report
  26. 26.Summer Lee · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference