Washington, August 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-American educator Pia Dandiya has won the Democratic primary for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, setting up a closely watched November election that could have implications for control of the US House of Representatives.
Dandiya defeated attorney Kaysia Earley with 61.3 per cent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary. She will face Republican businessman and Marine veteran Casey Askar in the November 3 general election.
Askar secured the Republican nomination with 24 per cent of the vote in a seven-candidate field. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Michael Carbonara received 20.6 per cent, while university administrator Belinda Keiser finished with 20.2 per cent.
“I am so thrilled and honoured to be your Democratic nominee for US Congress here in my home state of Florida,” Dandiya said in her victory speech.
She thanked voters, volunteers and supporters and said the campaign would now enter “the next chapter of our fight” to stand up for working families and redefine public service in Florida.
If elected, Dandiya would become the first South Asian American to represent Florida in the US Congress.
Born and raised in Palm Beach County to Indian-origin parents, Dandiya is a first-generation American. She began her career as a teacher and later founded a high school in Harlem at the age of 28, becoming one of the youngest high school principals in the country.
According to her campaign, every graduate of the school was admitted to college, despite 86 per cent of its students coming from low-income households.
Dandiya later served as a White House Fellow with the Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education. She subsequently worked on public-sector initiatives at Apple covering education, healthcare and state government.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin congratulated Dandiya and described the district as an opportunity for Democrats to gain a House seat.
“As an educator and longtime leader in her community, Pia has dedicated herself to expanding opportunity and fighting for working families,” Martin said.
Dandiya’s campaign platform includes reducing household costs, supporting universal pre-kindergarten, strengthening public schools, expanding vocational training and protecting Social Security, Medicare and reproductive rights.
The newly redrawn district covers parts of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry and Collier counties. It became an open seat after Democratic Representative Lois Frankel decided to contest the neighbouring 23rd District.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the district as leaning Republican. Donald Trump won the newly configured district with about 54.6 per cent of the vote in 2024, while Joe Biden carried the same territory with 51 per cent in 2020.
Both national parties have identified the seat as a priority contest ahead of the November election.
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