Race for 34th Senate District heats up ahead of primary

The race for the 34th Senate District is heating up just weeks ahead of the Democratic primary.
Alessandra Biaggi is set to square off against incumbent Sen. Jeff Klein. The 34th Senate District encompasses parts of the Bronx and Westchester.
Biaggi, who is a lawyer, has been criticizing her opponent for forming the Independent Democratic Conference. The group broke from Democrats for nearly eight years before it was disbanded in April by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
"All the damage that's been done over these past years cannot be undone," says Biaggi. "And it's a time to really hold all of them, especially my opponent accountable for the progress they blocked."
Klein, however, defends his choice to form the IDC.
"I'm a lifelong Democrat," says Klein. "I never caucused with the Republicans. I started an Independent Democratic Conference to get Democratic values done in our Legislature.
Klein spoke at his annual senior appreciation day at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford. He says he is very confident that the results on primary day will be in his favor. Klein says hopefully his constituents know how hard he works and will give him a shot at another two years.
Biaggi says she is hoping voters void Klein's contract and are ready to move in a new direction.
The two candidates will face off in the primary election on Sept. 13.