[CAPTURE PORTAL] 119TH CONGRESS
Legislative Integrity Monitor
Goblin House Intelligence
Congress → Officials → Summer L. Lee

Summer L. Lee

Democratic · Representative, PA ·12

Summer L. Lee is the Democratic U.S. Representative (PA's 12th congressional district). The platform has 8 voting records on file (2025-2026) and 48 verified facts on file covering this member's voting positions, financial disclosures, and stated platform commitments.

Score Components
48 MODERATE
Connection Density 20%
50 → 10
Donor Influence 15%
22 → 3
Silence Risk 25%
69 → 17
Contradiction Risk 25%
48 → 12
Intelligence Volume 15%
60 → 9
Constituency Deviation 0%
14 → 0
Voting Misalignment 0%
0 → 0
% = weight in composite score · Raw component 0–100 × weight = weighted contribution (→) · Sum of contributions = overall score. Hover a row for details.
PA-12's poverty rate is 9.1% per Census ACS 5-Year Estimates (LegisLetter), well below the national average of 12.4%. The 13.7% figure cited in the original claim cannot be independently verified against available Census, USDA, or Pennsylvania DHS data; the figure may derive from a different dataset or methodology not identified in this investigation.
secondary · 2026-04-23 ✓ Verified
The word 'devastating' attributed to Lee in the original claim was actually spoken by Matthew Y. Bolton, Executive Director of Rainbow Kitchen Community Services, at Lee's October 28, 2025 roundtable ('This impending pause on SNAP benefits represents another devastating blow to everyone'). Lee's own language includes 'despicable policy choice,' 'shamelessly gutting SNAP,' and 'largest cuts in history to SNAP.'
primary · 2025-10-28 ✓ Verified
The $187 billion SNAP cut codified by H.R. 7567 had already been enacted through H.R. 1 in July 2025 and was actively reducing benefits by the time of the Farm Bill vote—SNAP benefits expired on November 1, 2025, affecting Allegheny County's approximately 160,000 recipients. Lee's Nay vote on H.R. 7567 was thus a vote against codifying cuts already in effect.
secondary · 2025-11-01 ✓ Verified
Lee personally relied on SNAP benefits as a child: 'Like many Pennsylvanians, my family and I depended on food stamps growing up,' she wrote in September 2025, making her one of the few sitting members of Congress who can speak about food assistance from firsthand experience.
primary · 2025-09-04 ✓ Verified
Lee did not issue a standalone press release on the Farm Bill vote—a silence consistent with her treatment of H.R. 1 (OBBBA) in July 2025—but maintained active SNAP advocacy through other channels, including the Closing the Meal Gap Act reintroduction, food bank roundtables, and $1 million in community project funding to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
primary · 2026-04-30 ✓ Verified
Summer Lee voted Nay on H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, on April 30, 2026—the bill passed 224-200 with 209 Republicans and 14 Democrats voting Yea, and 197 Democrats and 3 Republicans voting Nay. All eight Pennsylvania Democrats voted against the bill.
primary · 2026-04-30 ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: U.S. citizenship rate: 97%
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Partisan lean (Cook PVI / Legisletter): D+13 (Solid Democratic)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Largest ethnic groups: White Non-Hispanic 73.7%, Black/African American 14.7%, Asian 3.9%, Hispanic 2.95%
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Poverty rate: 9.1-13.7% (national average 12.4%)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Homeownership rate: 62.8% (national average 65.5%)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Bachelor's degree or higher: 41.9% of adults (national average 33.7%)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Population foreign-born: 5.79% (approximately 44,100 residents)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median property value: $194,300-$205,700
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median household income: $70,333-$71,986 (national median $37,585)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: 2024 Democratic Primary — Summer Lee vs. Bhavini Patel (de facto referendum on Lee's Israel-Gaza stance and progressive record) (2024) — passed, margin 60.6% Lee — 39.4% Patel
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (NAICS 54) (share 0.098)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS Retail Trade (NAICS 44-45) (share 0.107)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS Educational Services (NAICS 61) (share 0.116)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS Health Care & Social Assistance (NAICS 62) (share 0.184)
secondary ✓ Verified
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) affiliation Lee voted against DHS/ICE funding multiple times and co-introduced the Melt ICE Act to 'end DHS's funding to detain or monitor immigrants, crippling DHS's…
Fairshake issue_opposition The documented facts show Lee voted against every significant pro-crypto bill including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act, which Fairshake (a crypto PAC)…
AIPAC / United Democracy Project opposition AIPAC's super PAC United Democracy Project spent approximately $4 million against Lee in 2022. In 2024, AIPAC stayed out of her primary.
Stand With Crypto Alliance affiliation Stand With Crypto rates Summer Lee 'Strongly against crypto' based on her 6 votes against all significant pro-crypto bills.
Jane Fonda Climate PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00806893/
Demand Justice PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00760827/
Rooted In Community Leadership PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00741371/
Courage To Change donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00692202/
Way To Lead PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00686832/
Medicare For All donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00685552/
Justice Democrats PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00630665/
Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00617803/
Wfp National PAC donor $10,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00606962/
Progressive Turnout Project donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00580068/
Fair Shot PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00574970/
End Citizens United donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00573261/
Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00513176/
Immigrants List donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00430280/
Building Relationships In Diverse Geographic Environments PAC (Bridge PAC) donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2024 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00399196/
National Postal Mail Handlers Union - Division Of Laborers' Int'L Union Of North America donor $5,000 to Summer L. Lee's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00345306/
BillVoteDateAlignment
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
PROOF Act Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
Ratepayer Protection Act Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
National Fraud Enforcement Division Act Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood… Nay 2026-09-16 unknown
Water Resources Development Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Retire through Ownership Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
GUARD Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
Whistleblower Protection Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act Nay 2026-09-03 unknown
Protecting Domestic Mining Act Nay 2026-09-02 unknown
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require… Nay 2026-09-02 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
AGOA Extension Act Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
In the matter of allegations relating to Representative Chuck Edwards Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
Local Access to Courts Act Yea 2026-08-31 unknown
Last contradiction analysis: Never
position_evolution 60/100
Platform: "Lee stated on January 17, 2025: 'The path to a just and lasting peace is clear: an end to the occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and the apartheid policies that deny Palestinians their basic rights. We must fully…
[ Show full platform position ]
Lee stated on January 17, 2025: 'The path to a just and lasting peace is clear: an end to the occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and the apartheid policies that deny Palestinians their basic rights. We must fully support Palestinian self-determination and liberation.' She called the war a 'genocide' and demanded an arms embargo.
"
Vote: on "In August 2023, JStreetPAC lauded Lee as 'a champion of J Street's core values and vision for…"
Lee evolved from a JStreetPAC-endorsed candidate who supported a two-state solution (2022-2024) to a congresswoman who characterizes Israel's actions as 'genocide' and 'apartheid,' demands an arms embargo, and declined to seek J Street's endorsement for 2026 — moving beyond the pro-Israel, pro-two-state-solution left…
[ Show full analysis ]
Lee evolved from a JStreetPAC-endorsed candidate who supported a two-state solution (2022-2024) to a congresswoman who characterizes Israel's actions as 'genocide' and 'apartheid,' demands an arms embargo, and declined to seek J Street's endorsement for 2026 — moving beyond the pro-Israel, pro-two-state-solution left into open advocacy for Palestinian liberation. Both sources are from independent outlets with different hostnames.
position_evolution 30/100
Platform: "In February 2026, Lee tweeted: 'State of politics in America? In Dem primaries across the country, super PACs are racing democracy off a cliff, openly buying any seat they can. In Illinois, AIPAC, crypto AND AI PACs…
[ Show full platform position ]
In February 2026, Lee tweeted: 'State of politics in America? In Dem primaries across the country, super PACs are racing democracy off a cliff, openly buying any seat they can. In Illinois, AIPAC, crypto AND AI PACs are each dropping millions on different candidates in the same race. Democracy v. Big $' — criticizing crypto PACs as part of the 'Big $' corrupting democracy.
"
Vote: on "Stand With Crypto rates Summer Lee 'Strongly against crypto' based on 6 votes. She voted against…"
Lee's tweet from February 2026 criticizes crypto PACs as antidemocratic forces 'racing democracy off a cliff,' yet she had already voted against every significant pro-crypto bill without crypto PAC money influencing her — since she doesn't accept corporate PAC contributions. Her opposition to crypto appears…
[ Show full analysis ]
Lee's tweet from February 2026 criticizes crypto PACs as antidemocratic forces 'racing democracy off a cliff,' yet she had already voted against every significant pro-crypto bill without crypto PAC money influencing her — since she doesn't accept corporate PAC contributions. Her opposition to crypto appears ideologically grounded in consumer protection and anti-Trump sentiment rather than donor-driven. Both sources are from independent outlets with different hostnames.
Last silence detection: Sat, 10 Oct 2026 01:19:14 GMT (via scheduled run)
Partially completed 2024 Political Courage Test — several issue positions left as 'Inferred Position' rather than stated directly
309d silent
Expected position: Candidates for federal office are expected to provide explicit issue positions on key topics to help voters make informed decisions. Lee completed portions of the test directly but left other positions to be inferred from her public…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Expected position: Candidates for federal office are expected to provide explicit issue positions on key topics to help voters make informed decisions. Lee completed portions of the test directly but left other positions to be inferred from her public record. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Lee was actively campaigning — raising $2.9M, hosting town halls, issuing press releases, and engaging on social media. Vote Smart's Political Courage Test page shows a mix of 'Official Position' (issues she addressed directly) and 'Inferred Position' (issues where Vote Smart had to use her voting record and public statements). She provided direct answers on abortion, budget, education, elections, and energy/environment, but positions on campaign finance, crime, and other topics were inferred by Vote Smart from her public record rather than stated in the test. Primary URL: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/179240/summer-lee
Did not seek JStreetPAC endorsement for 2026 after being one of their top-endorsed candidates in 2022 and 2024
233d silent
Expected position: As a two-term incumbent who had been a 'champion of J Street's core values' and a top target of AIPAC spending, Lee would be expected to maintain the JStreetPAC relationship that had bundled nearly $83,000 for her campaigns. Her decision…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Expected position: As a two-term incumbent who had been a 'champion of J Street's core values' and a top target of AIPAC spending, Lee would be expected to maintain the JStreetPAC relationship that had bundled nearly $83,000 for her campaigns. Her decision not to seek the endorsement signals a deliberate leftward shift on Israel-Palestine. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: JStreetPAC confirmed in February 2026 that 'Congresswoman Lee did not seek J Street's endorsement for the 2026 cycle' and that 'our approach differs from hers in key ways.' Lee was subsequently endorsed by PAL PAC, a new pro-Palestinian PAC. During this period, Lee was actively issuing statements on the ceasefire, calling for an arms embargo against Israel, and characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide' — language that put her to the left of J Street's pro-Israel, pro-two-state-solution positioning. Primary URL: https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/rep-summer-lee-endorsed-by-new-pro-palestinian-pac/
party committees
Congressional Black Caucus PAC (amounts: $10,000 (2024)) — interest area: party committees
ideological & single-issue
League Of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Moveon.Org PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, Progressive Turnout Project, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, End Citizens United (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $10,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026)…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
League Of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Moveon.Org PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, Progressive Turnout Project, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, End Citizens United (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $10,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: ideological & single-issue
colleagues' leadership pacs
PAC To The Future, Building Relationships In Diverse Geographic Environments PAC (Bridge PAC), Fair Shot PAC, Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC, Medicare For All, Courage To Change, Rooted In Community Leadership PAC (amounts: $10,000 (2024), $5,000…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
PAC To The Future, Building Relationships In Diverse Geographic Environments PAC (Bridge PAC), Fair Shot PAC, Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC, Medicare For All, Courage To Change, Rooted In Community Leadership PAC (amounts: $10,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: colleagues' leadership pacs
other / unclassified
Immigrants List, Justice Democrats PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: other / unclassified
National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC (Nbwa PAC) Alcohol & tobacco $5,000 (2024)
Jane Fonda Climate PAC Ideological & single-issue $5,000 (2026)
Demand Justice PAC Law & lobbying firms $5,000 (2024)
Rooted In Community Leadership PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)
Courage To Change Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)
Way To Lead PAC Utilities & nuclear $5,000 (2024)
Medicare For All Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Justice Democrats PAC Other / unclassified $5,000 (2026)
Jobs, Education, & Families First Jeff PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Wfp National PAC Labor unions $10,000 (2024)
Progressive Turnout Project Ideological & single-issue $5,000 (2024)
Fair Shot PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)
End Citizens United Ideological & single-issue $5,000 (2026)
Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC Ideological & single-issue $5,000 (2026)
Immigrants List Other / unclassified $5,000 (2026)
TopicPriorityAlignmentDeviation
Economic Development and Manufacturing/Energy 75 45 35
Tax Policy and Cost of Living 80 65 25
National Defense and Military Spending 55 60 20
Healthcare Access and ACA Protections 88 78 15
Forest Management and Public Lands 40 70 15
Criminal Justice and Public Safety 70 75 15
Immigration Enforcement and ICE Detention Policy 78 82 12
SNAP/Food Security and Anti-Poverty Programs 92 85 10
Crypto and Digital Asset Regulation 35 50 10
Voting Rights and Election Integrity 72 92 5
Disaster Relief and Federal Assistance Coordination 45 90 5
LGBTQ+ and Transgender Rights 68 95 3
No platform commitments archived
No committee memberships recorded
Scoring Methodology

The Capture Risk Score is a composite 0–100 index measuring potential regulatory capture of elected officials. It is computed from seven weighted components:

ComponentWeightSignal
Contradiction Risk30%Stated positions contradicted by the record (recent findings boosted)
Donor Influence20%Distinct documented donors (FEC Schedule A PACs); inferred donors do not count
Connection Density20%Mapped relationships to lobbyists, contractors, interest groups; donor links excluded
Silence Risk15%Topics where donors have interests but the official is silent
Intelligence Volume15%Documented facts from verified sources
Constituency Deviation0%Shown, not weighted — a model estimate, not a record
Voting Misalignment0%Shown, not weighted — needs platform commitments almost nobody has; the roll-call record on /votes is the vote signal

Each component is the member's standing among all scored members of Congress, and the weighted sum is the overall score. Tiers are ranks: Critical is the top 5%, High the next 10%, Elevated the next 20%, Moderate the next 30%, and Low the rest.

Officials without at least 2 documented facts, 1 contradiction analysis, 1 voting record, or 1 constituency baseline are marked Insufficient Evidence and excluded from numeric ranking.

Contradiction findings from the last 180 days receive a recency boost. High-severity contradictions (score ≥ 70) receive additional weight.

Full methodology: /congress/methodology

[PUBLIC COST ESTIMATE]
Documented financial relationships span 0 money flow chains.
$2.5BDonor Contributions
0Money Chains
0Traced Hops
Calculation Methodology

Contract values are summed from documented money flow chains where this entity appears as a source or destination node. Amounts are drawn from USASpending.gov, FEC filings, SEC EDGAR, or LD-2 lobbying registrations.

Donor contributions aggregate documented amounts from the donor_interests table, sourced from FEC individual and PAC contribution filings.

Connected officials are elected officials in our database with a mapped relationship (lobbying, board membership, campaign contribution, etc.) to this entity.

Annualised flow represents the total documented dollar amount traced through money flow hops involving this entity. Where hop-level amounts are unavailable, the chain-level documented total is used as a conservative upper bound.

All figures are drawn from public filings. Estimates are conservative — undisclosed transactions, dark money, and vanish-point hops are excluded from totals. This is a minimum documented floor, not a ceiling.

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