Fred Logan: Realpolitik 2024, Black Pittsburgh, and Summer Lee

by Fred Logan This year, U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee is running for reelection in the U.S. House of Represen­tative Pennsylvania District 12. The district covers all of Pittsburgh, much of Allegheny County, and parts of Westmoreland County. Summer Lee is faced with a hard-fought campaign. The Allegheny County Afri­can American vote is a critical factor in the race. In 2022, the 12th District population was 758, 799 people, 72 percent White, 15.1 percent Black, 4.5 per­cent Asian, 2.8 percent Hispanic… Pennsylvania is touted to be a key battle ground state in this year’s presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Millions and millions of dollars will be spent. The 12 District congressional race is a key battle ground. The strategy of Summer Lee’s opponents is to outflank her from the right, to turn out the MAGA Republicans, Blue Dog Democrats and those “In­dependent” White folks who still claim, at this late very date, they can’t make up their minds on Trump. There are plenty of them in the 12th District. Remember the political axiom that Pennsylvania has Pittsburgh on one end Philadelphia on the oth­er end with “Mississippi in between”— Hell No! with apartheid South Africa in between. Summer...