Pia Dandiya Makes History as Second Indian American Woman Elected to Congress, Wins Florida House Seat

WASHINGTON–Democrat Pia Dandiya, the daughter of Indian immigrants from Jaipur, Rajasthan, has won Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, becoming the second Indian American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after Pramila Jayapal.

Dandiya defeated Republican businessman Casey Askar in a closely contested election, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ and CBS News.

NBC News also projected Dandiya as the winner, showing her leading Askar by approximately 52% to 48%, with about 99% of the expected vote counted. The network reported that the district shifted approximately 14 percentage points toward Democrats compared with its voting pattern in the 2024 presidential election.

Her victory marks a significant milestone for Indian American political representation and comes in her first campaign for elected office.

Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Dandiya grew up in Jupiter, Florida, where her parents settled after immigrating from Jaipur during the 1980s.

Her father, Dr. Rohit Dandiya, continued practicing medicine after moving to the United States, while her mother established a Montessori school in Jupiter at age 40. The school was initially created for Dandiya.

Despite growing up in Florida, Dandiya maintained close connections with her Indian heritage. Her parents regularly sent her to India to spend time with relatives, experiences she credits with shaping her understanding of democracy and economic inequality.

“Very early on, my parents would send me on a solo trip to India to spend time with my cousins. These trips were life-changing and played a pivotal role in shaping my identity. They helped me understand how different democracies function and gave me a sense of global inequality,” she told New India Abroad in an August 2025 interview.

Her interest in education and public service developed further during her college years.

After completing her freshman year at Harvard University, Dandiya spent a summer teaching English to children between the ages of seven and 17 in underserved neighborhoods of New Delhi through the Asha Cooperative Society.

“Teaching those underprivileged kids, I learnt what truly separates people from each other is not their potential, but their circumstances,” she said.

Dandiya earned an undergraduate degree in government from Harvard and a master’s degree in education from Boston University.

She began her professional career as a teacher with Teach For America in Boston before moving into educational leadership.

At age 28, she became the founding Principal of Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem, New York, serving a student population in which approximately 86% came from low-income households.

According to her campaign, every graduate of the school gained admission to college.

“Around 86 per cent of students in my school lived below the poverty. But we promised them a brighter future: if they came to our school, 100 per cent of them would earn admission to college,” she told New India Abroad.

Her career subsequently expanded into government and the private sector.

In 2020, Dandiya was selected as a White House Fellow, serving on the White House Domestic Policy Council and at the U.S. Department of Education.

She later worked at Apple, where she led public-sector initiatives. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also appointed her to the state’s P-20 Council, which focuses on education policy and coordination across different stages of learning.

Dandiya entered the 2026 congressional race with a campaign centered on affordability, public education, health care, government accountability and gun safety.

“I was born and raised in this district by parents who came to this country in pursuit of the American dream, and I’ve dedicated my career to making sure that dream is within reach for more families,” she said when the Indian American Impact Fund endorsed her candidacy in 2025.

She initially filed to challenge Republican Rep. Brian Mast in Florida’s 21st Congressional District but shifted to the open 22nd District following the state’s mid-decade redistricting.

Dandiya won the Democratic primary on August 18, setting up a competitive general election against Askar.

The district presented a difficult electoral environment for Democrats. According to Florida Politics, voter registration figures showed approximately 185,000 registered Republicans, 146,000 Democrats and 150,000 voters affiliated with other parties or registered without party affiliation.

Dandiya sought to appeal to voters across party lines by emphasizing economic concerns and dissatisfaction with political divisions in Washington.

“South Floridians are fed up with the rising costs and performative politics coming out of Washington,” she told Florida Politics.

The race also attracted substantial campaign spending from both candidates and outside political organizations.

Federal Election Commission records showed Dandiya raising approximately $4.6 million through October 14, while Askar raised about $7.4 million, including approximately $6.8 million in loans to his own campaign.

Outside groups invested millions more in the contest.

No Going Back PAC, a super PAC funded by MAGA Inc., reported spending approximately $6.5 million against Dandiya through October 24.

Meanwhile, House Majority PAC, a major Democratic political organization, spent approximately $7.9 million opposing Askar.

Dandiya received endorsements from the Indian American Impact Fund, Serve America PAC and several prominent political figures.

Her supporters included Michael Napoleone, the Republican Mayor of Wellington, Florida, who crossed party lines to endorse her candidacy.

“I’ve always believed that the person matters more than the party, and Pia has earned my respect and my endorsement,” Napoleone said.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also joined Dandiya on the campaign trail on October 26.

Following her victory, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee praised her focus on economic issues and opportunities for working families.

The organization said Dandiya “focused on the issues that matter most to South Florida — addressing the affordability crisis and making sure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

Her election also drew congratulations from fellow Indian American lawmakers.

“Congratulations to @PiaforCongress for winning her election! I am so excited to welcome the third South Asian American woman (along with me and @aishabbwahab) to the House!!!” Rep. Pramila Jayapal wrote on X.

Dandiya lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband, Navneet Alag, and their son, Sahib.

Her election strengthens the presence of Indian Americans in Congress, a group informally known as the “Samosa Caucus.”

With her victory, Dandiya joins a growing number of Indian American lawmakers who have emerged as influential voices in national politics, bringing her experience in education, public service and technology to Capitol Hill. (Source: IANS)