Victory for the excellent Squad member in her April 23rd primary is essential, as defeat portends the collapse of the Democratic Party’s winning coalition.

All Democrats who hope to defeat Donald Trump in the Fall need to recognize the importance of the upcoming primary in Pennsylvania’s 12th District.  Simply put, either Congresswoman Summer Lee triumphs over an opponent backed by right-wing money or Democrats will suffer a self-inflicted wound they may not recover from. 

Every political analyst understands that Joe Biden’s razor-thin victory in the 2020 election was the product of high turnout among key constituencies: including Black women, progressives, and young voters.

Maintaining similar support from these three constituencies is essential to Biden’s re-election hopes in the fall.

That will not be easy if the centrist “mainstream’ wing of the Democratic Party sits idly by and allows Lee, a progressive first-term Black Congresswoman, to lose to an opponent already backed by GOP-money, who is looking for AIPAC to replicate what it did four years ago.

In 2022, AIPAC poured an unprecedented $4,000,000 into the race, mostly in the final days of the campaign, against the theretofore heavily favored Lee – who, fortunately, survived her primary by a razor-thin margin over a white male opponent.

Her leading opponent, Bhavini Patel, is in contact with AIPAC, clearly hoping they, along with other reactionary donors,  will replicate their largesse in the homestretch, just like in 2022.  (Keep in mind that many of AIPAC’s biggest donors favor a Trump victory in the fall.  They know what they are doing.)

Suffice to say, allowing this to go unchallenged is not a good look for a Party which will ask for the votes of black women in the fall.  

For many progressive and young voters, it could be unforgivable – as it will send a message that they are not welcome inside the Democratic Party.

Now, let me be crystal clear here, as the Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, it is my job to fight for the inclusion of Progressives inside the party.  In fact, we at PDA not only want, but think it would be best for the Democratic Party if the progressive wing became the dominant faction of the Party – for the simple reason that we support common sense policies that will benefit the vast majority of Americans and hence all of our society.

Young people on balance feel the same way.  It is no secret that young voters overwhelmingly supported Bernie Sanders in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential races.  It is also no secret that the establishment wing of the Party staunchly opposed Sanders – even as he emerged as the most popular politician in the country.  

The squad are the political heirs of the Sanders movement, embracing the same economic and social policies. Just as important, for a generation of staunchly anti-racist young progressives, the Squad members are themselves young and 100% people of color.

A big question hangs over this reality.  Will the mainstream of the Democratic Party accept or fight against the Squad?  Do the politicians who represent the political hopes and dreams of the majority of young Americans – and of progressives as well – have a home inside the Democratic Party?

These questions are on the ballot in Pennsylvania’s 12th District primary.  It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand its implications for Joe Biden’s re-election hopes.

Of course, it’s even more than that. 

Because of Gaza.

For the past few months, it has been a truism in American politics that the Biden re-election campaign was in trouble not only because Arab-Americans, who had also voted overwhelmingly for the President in 2020, vehemently opposed America’s blank check support for the Israeli government during the murderous months-long siege of Gaza, but also because progressives and young people felt the same.

If there’s a glimmer of hope for Democrats in this reality is that a handful of brave, ethical Members of Congress had the courage to do the right thing, oppose the Democratic Administration, and call for a ceasefire.  

All of these Members were Democrats, and they were led by the Squad, including Summer Lee.

Now that the Biden’s Administration’s own policy is to call for a ceasefire (at least rhetorically), think how much better the world would be if they had listened to the Squad five months ago – it would be better for the state and people of Israel, for US standing in the world, and most importantly, of course, for the people of Palestine and Gaza. One of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our time would’ve been avoided, millions of people less traumatized, more than 100,000 never grievously injured and more than 30,000 innocent souls would still be alive.

Progressives, young people, Arab-Americans, and hundreds of Black clergy people understand this.  They know who has shown great leadership. More than ever before they recognize Summer Lee and her fellow Squad members as their beacons in a time of darkness.

If Summer Lee is defeated in her April 23rd primary by a candidate who continues to seek the support of AIPAC, an organization that openly supports the continued slaughter in Gaza, prospects for Joe Biden and the Democrats will plummet. This is not a threat, but a warning, and a statement of fact.

For all that you love in life, please support Summer Lee for Congress in 2024.

But, hey, don’t take it from me.  I asked four young politically-engaged people what it would mean to them if Summer Lee lost in her primary to an AIPAC-backed candidate:

Losing Summer Lee would be devastating and extremely disheartening to young folks and would only contribute to a lower turn out this November among a population that has only increased its participation every election cycle.

• Tyler Rivera, NY/NJ Metro

By keeping progressives like Summer Lee in office, young folks not only see, in her, an elected willing to walk alongside and elevate the voices of the poor, working poor, and working class Americans in this country —she pushes us to envision ourselves in this righteous endeavor. We too can play a part of this revitalized progressive movement that not only resonates, but also wins. 

• Hartzell Gray, Host / KC Morning Show Podcast

It’s no secret. When young people turn out, Democrats win. But, a generation that should have already been monopolized has instead become jaded and disillusioned as they watch their progressive champions face unprecedented backlash and record-shattering amounts of capital pouring in to support their opposition. In the Squad, in Summer Lee, young Americans finally saw themselves. They found a voice that speaks to their experiences and advocates the changes they wish to see in their communities. Super PAC and GOP-funded operations designed to protect the status quo will do nothing but alienate a generation already disinterested in electoral engagement. This political malpractice cannot be allowed to continue. The progressive movement cannot survive if our champions are continuously sacrificed by the establishment. Fear cannot motivate indefinitely, we must instead inspire. 

• William Walter, Germantown, WI

Losing Summer Lee would be a massive step back for the progressive movement in this country. Over the last couple of election cycles, we’ve seen a resurgence of passion from younger demographics when it comes to lifting up progressive voices, but lately I’ve feared that the lack of significant legislative wins has made this voting base feel even further disillusioned with electoral politics. If we lose another strong progressive voice in congress, I see this momentum continuing to slip away as young voters lose hope of seeing their values contributing to the national conversation in a meaningful way.

• Kendall Avenia, Kansas City, MO