The story about Democrats and Israel has largely, and understandably, been about whether the war could tear the party apart. (Last month, the Democratic club in the surrounding ward endorsed her.) After the killing of World Central Kitchen workers last week, “my opponent put out a tweet, saying that they targeted - her word - ‘targeted’ humanitarian aid workers.”

“It’s incredibly important that we are sensitive about the language that we use,” Patel said in an interview near her campaign office - and near the Tree of Life Synagogue, where a gunman murdered 11 Jewish worshippers in 2018. She’s gotten air cover from a different super PAC, funded partly by GOP billionaire Jeff Yass, a connection that Lee’s cited to discredit its ads In a televised debate last week, Patel told Lee that she “cannot stand in this community with the heartache and the challenges our Jewish community is facing,” and ripped her for confirming, then canceling, a speech at a Muslim organization’s dinner, after Jewish Insider revealed antisemitic comments by other guests. Lee’s challenger, suburban city councilmember Bhavini Patel, hasn’t let the ceasefire issue go. Cori Bush, weakened by scandals totally unrelated to the Gaza issue, looked vulnerable.

(“Summer Lee attacked Biden’s character,” warned one of UDP’s primary ads.) After looking closely at the race, pro-Israel groups decided that the primary wasn’t winnable. That answered one of the most effective attacks against her in 2022 - that she’d undermine Biden and hurt her party. Lee has pulled some skeptics to her side with constituent work, rallied with the Biden campaign, and scooped up endorsements.

Pennsylvania election results nytimes