Alessandra Biaggi approaches the stage at the Bronx Alehouse in Kingsbridge to give a victory speech after toppling state Sen. Jeffrey Klein in the Democratic primary on Sept. 13.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
A campaign poster for Alessandra Biaggi rests in the foyer of her childhood home, which doubled as her campaign headquarters, in February.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi speaks with her campaign team during a meeting in her dining room in February. Biaggi left her job as an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to launch her efforts to upset Sen. Jeff Klein in the Democratic primary, which she ultimately won on Sept. 13.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi speaks with Bruce Feld, the vice president of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, ahead of the club?s endorsement meeting on April 25. Biaggi did not secure the club?s nomination, but ultimately defeated her opponent, state Sen. Jeff Klein, in the primary on Sept. 13.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi addresses the crowd at an endorsement meeting held by the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club on April 25, at which she squared off against incumbent state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, to whom she lost the endorsement. Despite this setback, she prevailed in the primary on Sept. 13.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi participates in a debate against state Sen. Jeffrey Klein at Lehman College, hosted by Gary Axelbank on BronxNet in August. The BronxNet debate was the first of two televised debates between Biaggi and Klein. The second was on NY1.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi listens to state Sen. Jeffrey Klein respond to a question from Gary Axelbank during a televised debate held at Lehman College in August.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi sits on the panel at a nonpartisan candidates forum held by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition on Aug. 22 next to a seat reserved for state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, who didn?t attend in August.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi embraces former councilman Oliver Koppell at the Bronx Alehouse before giving a victory speech following her Sept. 13 Democratic primary defeat of state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, former leader of the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File photos
Alessandra Biaggi declares victory in her Sept. 13 primary race against state Sen. Jeffrey Klein at an election party at the Bronx Alehouse on West 238th Street. ?We have now cut the head off the IDC snake,? Biaggi said.
Alessandra Biaggi knew the chips were stacked against her when she began her campaign for Jeff Klein’s seat in Senate District 34 earlier this year. While she may not have run for office before she decided to take on the Goliath of state politics, Biaggi has worked in the political field, including her time as an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and as the deputy national operations director for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential run.
Biaggi also isthe granddaughter of former U.S. Rep. Mario Biaggi. Suffice it to say, politics is in her DNA.
It was a steep climb from campaign meetings in the dining room of her childhood home in Pelham to a raucous victory at the Bronx Alehouse following her surprising win in the Sept. 13 primary.
Keywords
Alessandra Biaggi,
Jeff Klein,
Andrew Cuomo,
Hillary Clinton,
Mario Biaggi,
Bronx Alehouse,
Julius Constantine Motal