Alessandra Biaggi wants to win NY's 17th District seat and has AOC's backing. Who is she?

New York state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi is running to represent New York's 17th Congressional District in Tuesday's primary against Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y.

Maloney decided to run after New York's redistricting changed district borders.Maloney’s district was split into the 17th and 18th congressional districts, and his home was drawn into the 17th.

Maloney's candidacy created controversy, not only because it pushed out the 17th District incumbent, Rep. Mondaire Jones, but alsobecause of Maloney's role as head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps get Democrats elected to the House.

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"I think that frankly, that sends a terrible message, not only just to Democrats in New York, but to Democrats across the country who are going to be fighting incredibly hard to hold onto their districts," Biaggi said referencing Maloney's decision, according to Spectrum News NY 1.

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"We can't have the head of our campaign arm for the House of Representatives running away from tough fights."

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Here is what you need to know about Biaggi, who entered the race after Maloney switched districts.

Who is Alessandra Biaggi?

Alessandra Biaggi was born in Mount Vernon, New York. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States from Italy.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in communications from New York University in 2008, and a J.D. from Fordham Law School in 2012. She graduated from Women's Campaign School at Yale University in 2014.

Biaggi is the granddaughter of former Rep. Mario Biaggi, D-N.Y., who served in Congress from 1969-1988, according to govtrack.us.

What is her political background?

Biaggi is a New York state senator representing the Bronx and Westchester.

The 36-year-old lawyer was elected as state senator in 2018, and in an upset win defeated longtime former state Sen. Jeffrey Klein. Biaggi then won the general election and is in her second two-year term, according to the New York Times. 

She has worked as deputy national operations director for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

She has also worked for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office of Storm Recovery, and as a "legal fellow for New York State Homes and Community Renewal," according to Ballotpedia.

Who has endorsed Biaggi?

New York State Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is endorsing Biaggi. 

Ocasio-Cortez said in an email to supporters in June that "Alessandra has been here before – she knows what it takes to go up against powerful opponents," according to CNN. ". 

Ocasio-Cortez also endorsed Biaggi when she was running for state senator in the 2018 primary against Klein.