Something strange is happening in the Bronx. More specifically, something strange is happening in Bronx politics. The usual suspect slate of Democratic candidates are being challenged (and defeated!) by young insurgent liberal candidates. The shocker of the year came in the form of 28 year old self-proclaimed socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her defeat of long time Congressman Joseph Crowley. Ocasio-Cortez immediately drew nationwide attention by traveling to the Texas-Mexico border to protest the recent family separations implemented by the Trump administration and carried out by ICE. Ocasio-Cortez showed the Bronx political elites that the hype machine created by Bernie Sanders and his followers can deliver real political results.

As our attention shifts to the New York primaries on Thursday, September 13th. the Bronx race that could potentially reshape local politics in the beautiful borough is the 34th State Senate district race. Political heavyweight Jeff Klein is challenged by Alessandra Biaggi, a political newcomer backed by AOC and the Sanders machine. Biaggi’s youth and inexperience in the political world should serve as forces that work in Klein’s favor, but the endorsements have been pouring in for Biaggi. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the New York Times, the mighty 32BJ union, and of course AOC herself have all backed the young challenger. Biaggi’s campaigning efforts have been relentless and her team is organized. I’ve already received three text messages from the Biaggi campaign asking for support. I haven’t heard from Klein’s people at all.

If Biaggi can pull off this upset in the Bronx then the rest of the city, and country for that matter, must ask itself “Is the Democratic party changing?”

*The opinions and ideas expressed are solely those of the author, and may not reflect the opinions of The Bronx Brand*

What Herbert Norat loves most about the Bronx is the diverse group of people that call our beautiful borough home. You can drive from a pub on City Island to a Jamaican restaurant in Gun Hill and shoot over to Little Italy for gelato. It’s all here.

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