Democratic Rep. Summer Lee won reelection to the U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, defeating Republican James Hayes and securing a third term in Congress.
The result keeps the seat in Democratic hands and gives Lee another term representing the Pittsburgh-area district, which includes Pittsburgh and portions of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Lee has represented the district since January 2023.
The 12th District encompasses Pittsburgh, much of eastern and southern Allegheny County, and portions of western Westmoreland County, including communities such as McKeesport, Monroeville and parts of the Mon Valley.
Hayes, a Republican economist and business executive from Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, challenged Lee for the second consecutive election. He previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, campaigning on strengthening American manufacturing, reducing government spending and supporting stricter immigration policies.
Lee entered the race with a significant financial and voter-registration advantage: Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than two to one in the district, and her campaign reported approximately $1.3 million in contributions as of June 30, compared with roughly $40,000 raised by Hayes since January 2025. Following his defeat, Hayes congratulated Lee and acknowledged that voters had chosen her vision for western Pennsylvania.
