Patel drops U.S. House 12th District bid
Democratic field has 3 candidates
Bhavini Patel, a first-generation college graduate who went from food truck worker to tech startup CEO and political candidate, dropped her bid for the U.S. House 12th District on Friday, trimming the Democratic primary field down to three candidates.
Ms. Patel, co-founder and CEO of Beamdata, said her campaign “didn’t gain the momentum needed for a short runway to Election Day,” noting that she announced her bid in late January — well after her competitors launched theirs.
She said her short-lived campaign showed the importance of talking about “kitchen table issues” and people’s day-to-day concerns.
“When I filed papers with the FEC to run, I became the first Indian American to run for Congress in Western Pennsylvania,” Ms. Patel said in a statement.
“We talked about kitchen table issues that matter to people here. We gained supporters in the labor movement and recognized the strength they have here.”
Now, the race to succeed outgoing Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, as Democratic nominee for the district is down to state Rep. Summer Lee, University of Pittsburgh law professor Jerry Dickinson and Pittsburgh attorney Steve Irwin.
The newly drawn 12th, formerly the U.S. House 18th District, contains all of the city of Pittsburgh, much of the southern and southeastern suburbs of Allegheny County and the western edge of Westmoreland County.
Ms. Patel said she will continue to serve as a member of Edgewood Borough Council.
She had framed her candidacy as an ode to Pittsburgh’s story, which she said matched her’s; her mother immigrated here from India in the late 1990s when the region was continuing to feel the impacts of economic decline.
“I love Pittsburgh and I’m committed to making this town and this region better for all of us,” her statement read. “I am grateful to all those who publicly supported my campaign and I look forward to working with you in the future.”
The remaining Democratic candidates will participate in a forum on Monday evening, hosted by 1Hood Media. It will be the first time they share the same event.
The deadline for candidates to file their nominating petitions — securing a spot on the May 17 primary ballot, if successful — is next Tuesday. As of Friday evening, Mr. Irwin was the only one in the 12th District race to have submitted his.
The district is heavily blue, and whoever emerges from the Democratic primary is likely to be a heavy favorite in the general election — if the Republicans do indeed field a candidate.
The most recent campaign finance reports show Mr. Irwin with an advantage in fundraising. He started 2022 with $296,000 on hand.
Following in second was Ms. Lee with $201,000, then Mr. Dickinson with $158,600.
Mr. Doyle, the longestserving member of Congress in Pennsylvania, will retire later this year. He is in his 14th term.