Alessandra Rose Biaggi (born May 20, 1986) is an American politician who served as a member of the New York State Senate from 2019 to 2022, representing the 34th district, which includes portions of Bronx and Westchester Counties. She was the chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance. She is the granddaughter of former U.S. Congressman Mario Biaggi.[1]
From May 2015 to December 2016, during the campaign for the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Biaggi served as Deputy National Operations Director for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign.[23][12] She oversaw a staff of 200, and a budget of $500 million.[12] She said: "Everything was urgent in the moment. It was total chaos and I loved it. We played very hard, and it was very hard to lose."[25]
Following the election, she worked on various advocacy and voter engagement measures.[23] In April to December 2017, Biaggi served as counsel in Governor Cuomo's Counsel's Office, and as a member of the governor's executive clemency team.[23][26] She also created the Take Action Guide for Activism.[27][23]
Biaggi served as chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance.[28]
Combating sexual abuse is one of Biaggi's policy issues.[29][30][31] She has led the first public hearings in the New York State Senate on workplace sexual harassment in 27 years, and fought for tougher sexual harassment laws.[12] Susan Kang, Associate Professor of political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said: "She is definitely making a name for herself as someone who is an advocate for victims of sexual violence."[32]
Biaggi is also focused on institutional reform of Congress, of the Supreme Court, and institutions. Specifically, Biaggi is also focused on banning trading stocks among members.[33]
"I'm not going to wait for somebody to anoint me or choose me. I have got to step up."[34]
— Biaggi
Biaggi ran in 2018 in the primary for the Democratic nomination for New York State SenateinDistrict 34. While only 32 years old, she ran against powerful longtime incumbent Jeffrey D. Klein, the number 2 Democrat in the NY Senate and the leader of the Independent Democratic Conference, who had held the seat for 14 years.[35][36][15][37] Klein outspent Biaggi by a rate of 9-to-1, spending $2.7 million to her $333,000.[15][38] Biaggi said: "The more people told me I couldn’t win, the more obsessed I became."[12]
In a major upset, Biaggi defeated Klein in the primary, 54%–46%.[28][39] She remarked: "It was a tough fight. And, I should also say, we should thank [Senator Klein] for his service. But his time is up."[40]
In June 2019, the New York legislature passed sweeping anti-sexual-harassment legislation that Biaggi had sponsored.[45] Among other things, the bills reduced employers' ability to avoid liability for their employees' behavior, provided for attorney fees and punitive damages, and lengthened the time frame within which to file complaints.[45] In her first six months in office, Biaggi introduced 80 bills, 17 of which were passed.[46]
In 2020, Biaggi won the Democratic primary with 88% of the vote. She then won the general election with 74% of the vote.[28]
In February 2021, Biaggi wrote on Twitter: "@NYGovCuomo, you are a monster, and it is time for you to go. Now."[47] At the time, her call for his resignation was what The New York Times described as: "something of an outlier in the Democrat-controlled Legislature."[47] On August 10, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation.[48]
In May 2021 journalist Matthew Kassel opined: "Biaggi ... has gained a reputation, on her own merits, as an upstate force — an influential lawmaker with a growing list of legislative accomplishments who has carved out a space for herself as an outspoken and independent voice in Albany’s cutthroat political sphere."[32]
On September 24, 2021, Biaggi co-wrote a letter to US Senator Maria Cantwell with eight other New York State Senators, requesting that the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation engage in oversight of the United States Center for SafeSport, and step in to ensure that SafeSport is adequately conducting investigations.[49] They referred to what they called SafeSport's failure to carry out impartial and thorough investigations, and ensure the safety of athletes it is charged with protecting.[28] They highlighted the fact that despite serious outstanding allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual coercion, and other violent behaviors by former friends, peers, and current teammates, and an ongoing investigation, fencer Alen Hadzic was allowed to travel to Tokyo as an alternate for the 2021 Team USA Olympic fencing team.[28]
Biaggi has been a vocal advocate for defunding the police.[50]
In June 2021, she was named to the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center annual 40 Under 40: The Rising Stars in NYC Food Policy. She was noted for working "to transform and improve the food system."[57] In November 2021, Biaggi was named to the City & State New York "Women 100", as one of the prominent women wielding power in New York State.[58] She was noted especially for having long pushed for legislation addressing sexual assault and sexual abuse.[58]