Ihre Parteikarriere begann die promovierte Politologin 1996 in der Jugendorganisation der damaligen Democratici di Sinistra (Linksdemokraten), die sich 2008 mit der katholischen Zentrumspartei Margherita zur heutigen sozialdemokratischen PD zusammenschloß.
The qualified doctor of political science began her party career in 1996 in the youth organization of the former Democratici di Sinistra (left wing democrats), which merged with the catholic centre party, Margherita, in 2008, to form today's social democratic party (PD).