Who's running in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Summer Lee currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Ending U.S. military aid to Israel and opposing the war in Gaza.
Removing outside and corporate money from Democratic primaries; she has named AIPAC in particular.
Labour rights and union organising, drawing on her background as an organiser.
Environmental justice in the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh's industrial communities.
Progressive economic policy, as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 12th District since January 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 56.4%.
First Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.
Former Pennsylvania state representative and labour organiser.
Won her 2024 primary against a challenger backed by AIPAC's affiliated super PAC, which had also spent millions against her in 2022.
Has said AIPAC is an existential threat to the Black community and its right to self-determination.
Arguments in favor
She twice beat back multi-million-dollar outside spending campaigns against her in Democratic primaries, which supporters present as proof the seat cannot be bought.
— In These Times, reporting on her 2024 primary win over an AIPAC-backed challenger
National progressive organisations and the party's best-known left-wing figures back her, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned for her at a Pittsburgh rally.
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Working Families Party, Justice Democrats and PAL PAC
Arguments against
A Jewish community coalition's candidate assessment says she repeated or amplified disputed claims about the war in Gaza, including a figure of a 99% civilian casualty rate, and that she attacks outside money in politics while benefiting from her own network of outside PACs.
Two organisations that endorsed her first congressional campaign — J Street and Jewish Democratic Outreach Pennsylvania — no longer do.
— J Street and Jewish Democratic Outreach Pennsylvania, per the Beacon Coalition's assessment
What we couldn’t verify
The Beacon Coalition is an advocacy organisation rather than a news outlet; its characterisation of Lee's statements was not independently verified, and Lee's response was not located.
Whether she faced a Democratic primary challenger in 2026 was not established; polling in 2025 tested a challenge and the most-discussed potential opponent declined to run.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Lee for the 2026 cycle could be found.
Crime and public safety, including restoring juvenile detention capacity and funding law enforcement; his son was killed in New Kensington.
School choice, with education funding following the student rather than the institution.
Energy production, which he argues was constrained by federal policy and drove inflation.
Support for Israel and opposition to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
Leaving abortion policy to the states rather than passing a national ban.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Career in finance and economics at Bankers Trust, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies.
Degrees from Georgetown, Princeton, the University of Chicago and Case Western Reserve.
Republican nominee for this district in 2024; lost to Summer Lee.
Won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against Benson Fechter and Arnold Santos.
Lives in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighbourhood; credits a United Steelworkers scholarship with paying for his first year of college.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Hayes by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', with 'opponent', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Summer Lee's campaign, and against WESA, WPXI, Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
His criticism of Lee is general — he says the district does not have good representation and that she is wrong on crime, energy, jobs and school choice — without a specific vote or statement attached, so it is recorded here rather than presented as an argument against her.
His endorsements and fundraising were not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Pennsylvania held its primary on May 19, 2026. Democratic incumbent Summer Lee is seeking a third term; James Hayes won a three-candidate Republican primary and is the Republican nominee for the second cycle running, having lost to Lee in 2024. The district covers the city of Pittsburgh and its eastern and southern suburbs in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and PoliticsPA. Criticism of Hayes by name could not be found, so his entry carries no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Pennsylvania ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.