Democrat Summer Lee defeats Republican Mike Doyle to represent Pennsylvania's 12th District

Summer Lee is the projected winner of Pennsylvania's Congressional District 12 race. She defeated Republican Mike Doyle and she becomes the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

Lee held more than 58% of the vote with 74%of votes reported, and most major outlets called the race for her in a district that had been heavily favored Democratic.

Lee, is a second-term state House member, lawyer and former labor organizer, comes from the party's progressive wing. She was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time presidential candidate and a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s left wing who came to campaign for Lee.

Summer Lee wins Pennsylvania Democratic primary

Summer Lee has won a five-way Democratic primary for a Pittsburgh-based U.S. House seat, making her the favorite in the heavily Democratic district to win the fall general election and become the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

After Tuesday, Lee led by less than half a percentage point. But there were still in-person ballots to be counted, as 26 precincts within the district didn’t return their memory sticks properly.

On Friday, those precincts were counted and they increased Lee’s lead up to 740 votes, according to unofficial results. Lee leads with 41.8% of the vote, and Irwin is behind her with 41.1% of the vote.

The Associated Press called the race Friday evening.

“We built a movement in Western Pennsylvania that took on corporate power, stood up for working families, and beat back a multimillion-dollar smear campaign,” Lee said in a statement.

Lee, a second-term state House member, lawyer and former labor organizer, comes from the party's progressive wing. She was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time presidential candidate and a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s left wing who came to campaign for Lee.

Lee will face the Republican nominee of the same name as the outgoing Democratic incumbent, Mike Doyle in the fall general election.

Summer Lee wins Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Summer Lee of Swissvale Pennsylvania has won the Democratic primary as a newcomer to the 34th State House District in a wide victory against incumbent Paul Costa.

Lee is likely headed to Harrisburg next year; she will not face a Republican challenger in the general election in November. She will become one of the few African-American women in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Summer Lee’s supporters have been vocal on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #SummerIsComing, a play on HBO show Game of Thrones’ well-known slogan “Winter Is Coming.” The phrase is a vote of confidence for a candidate challenging a local political dynasty. And her supporters believe, like winter in Westeros, she’s a long-awaited phenomenon.

"This win means everything we've been trying to say: trust black women, elect black women," said Marita Garrett, the first black female mayor of Wilkinsburg and a Lee supporter. "By Summer shattering the glass and becoming the first black female representative from this area, it's just the beginning."

Read more: Progressive Summer Lee Defeats Incumbent Paul Costa In 34th State House District