Indian-American educator and former school principal Pia Dandiya has secured the Democratic nomination for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, advancing to the November general election. Dandiya won 68.6% of the vote, defeating attorney Kaysia Earley, who received 31.4%. She will now compete against Republican candidate Casey Askar, a former Marine, for the congressional seat.
Dandiya said her campaign was built around the concerns of students, families and children growing up in the district. After her primary victory, she thanked voters for their support and outlined her priorities, including reducing living costs, tackling corruption and making government more responsive to Americans.
The Democratic National Committee congratulated Dandiya and pointed to her background in education and community leadership as important strengths. The committee said she would advocate for working families and address the financial pressures created by rising grocery, healthcare and housing costs. Democratic leaders also expressed their intention to support her campaign as the party seeks to gain the seat and strengthen its position in the US House.
Dandiya was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida, to parents who immigrated to the United States from India. A first-generation American, she began her career as a teacher before moving into education leadership, policy and technology. She later served as a high school principal in Harlem and founded a school focused on helping students from low-income households pursue college and greater economic opportunities.
Her campaign says every graduate of the school was admitted to college, while 86% of the students came from low-income families. Dandiya became the institution’s founding principal at age 28, making her one of the youngest high school principals in the country at the time.
Dandiya initially sought to challenge Republican Brian Mast in Florida’s 21st Congressional District. She later moved her campaign to the 22nd District following redistricting, where no incumbent was competing.
With the Democratic primary concluded, Dandiya will now focus on the November contest against Askar. Her campaign is expected to continue emphasizing education, affordability, government accountability and expanded opportunities for families in the district.
