Elly Schlein, a 37-year-old U.S.-Italian dual national who proved her mettle in two U.S. presidential campaigns, has become the first woman to head Italy's second biggest party, the center-left Democratic party, making her Italy's de-facto political opposition leader.  Schlein, also the youngest ever to lead the party, is not only a now-accomplished Italian politician, but a veteran of two American presidential campaigns.    

In a surprise primary vote win Sunday night, Schlein, whose mother is Italian and father is American, beat opponent Stefano Bonaccini with 54% to his 46% of the vote. She cut her political teeth working on two of former U.S. President Barack Obama's presidential campaigns.