Indian-American Pia Dandiya Wins Democratic Primary in Florida Congressional Race
Washington — Indian-American educator Pia Dandiya has won the Democratic primary for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, advancing to a November general election contest that could play a role in determining control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dandiya defeated attorney Kaysia Earley with 61.3 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary. She will face Republican businessman and Marine veteran Casey Askar in the Nov. 3 general election.
Askar won the Republican nomination with 24 percent of the vote in a crowded seven-candidate field. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Michael Carbonara received 20.6 percent, while university administrator Belinda Keiser finished with 20.2 percent.
“I am so thrilled and honored to be your Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress here in my home state of Florida,” Dandiya said in her victory speech.
“To the voters, to the volunteers, and to everyone who’s believed in our campaign for months, a truly heartfelt thank you,” she said.
Dandiya said her campaign would now begin “the next chapter of our fight to stand up for working families and to write a new chapter of what it means to be a public servant in Florida.”
If elected, Dandiya would become the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress.
Born and raised in Palm Beach County to parents from India, Dandiya is a first-generation American. She began her career as a teacher and later founded a high school in Harlem at age 28, becoming one of the youngest high school principals in the country.
According to her campaign, every graduate of the school earned admission to college despite 86 percent 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 at Apple, leading public-sector initiatives involving education, healthcare and state government.
The Democratic National Committee congratulated Dandiya and identified the district as a possible opportunity for the party 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,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said.
“She is ready to fight in Congress to lower the costs of groceries, healthcare, and housing for South Florida families. The DNC is ready to help elect Pia, flip this seat, and take back the House majority in November,” 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 includes parts of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry and Collier counties. It became an open seat after Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel decided to seek election from the neighboring 23rd District.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have rated the district as leaning Republican. Donald Trump carried the area within its new boundaries with about 54.6 percent of the vote in 2024, while Joe Biden won the same territory with about 51 percent in 2020.
Both major parties have identified the district as a priority contest ahead of the November election. (Source: IANS)
