Biaggi wins Democratic primary for state senate seat

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Caitlin Wong

Alessandra Biaggi celebrates with supporters at the Bronx Alehouse.

With 242 of 274 precincts reporting, Alessandra Biaggi has won the Democratic primary for the New York State Senate seat representing District 34, according to Spectrum NY1.

With 15,803 votes, Biaggi won 54.9% percent of the total. Incumbent State Sen. Jeff Klein received 12,961 votes, or 45.1 % percent.

Biaggi, raised in Pelham, rose to the frontlines of New York politics in recent months. She urged a fresh approach in the Democratic Party free of big money influence or any alignment with the Republican Party in Albany. Biaggi received a wide range of endorsements, including one from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who similarly toppled a longstanding Congressional Democrat in an earlier primary.

Klein, a Bronx native, has served in the state senate for 14 years and will be remembered in New York politics for his creation of the Independent Democratic Conference, which voted with the Republicans in the state senate. He is currently on the ballot in November on the Independence Party ticket.