Indian-origin Democrat Pia Dandiya, 39, is running for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District in the November 3 US midterm elections.Dandiya faces Republican Casey Askar for the newly redrawn district, an open seat that stretches across parts of Palm Beach, Broward, Hendry and Collier counties. The district has no incumbent under the new boundaries, making the contest a race for an open seat.Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Dandiya has made education, the cost of living and government accountability central to her campaign. She says her experience as a teacher, school principal, White House Fellow and public-sector professional has shaped her decision to seek elected office.“I’m running for Congress because I want to fight for a future that is worthy of my students, and now also my three-year-old son,” Dandiya said in an interview with Jim DeFede on CBS Miami’s Facing South Florida.She also described the election as a moment requiring a new generation of leaders willing to focus on legislation and long-term priorities. “And if there’s anyone who’s good at saying no to nonsense, it’s a high school principal and especially this one,” she said.
Why Dandiya is running for Congress
Dandiya has said her campaign is focused on making the American Dream more accessible to families, particularly by reducing living costs and addressing what she describes as corruption in Washington.In her campaign statement, she said she wanted to lower costs and challenge the influence of wealthy individuals and large corporations in policymaking.Her priorities draw on her experience in education and public-sector work. She began her career as a teacher before becoming the founding principal of Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem, New York. According to her LinkedIn profile.Dandiya later served as a White House Fellow in the Domestic Policy Council from 2020 to 2021. She joined Apple in 2022, working on public-sector initiatives involving education, healthcare and workforce development, before leaving the company in June 2025.She has cited these roles as preparation for working on policy and improving public institutions if elected to Congress.
The Florida district she hopes to represent
Florida’s newly drawn 22nd Congressional District covers parts of four counties, extending from the Gulf Coast towards the state’s east coast. Its boundaries were substantially changed during redistricting, creating an open-seat contest.Dandiya faces Askar, a Naples businessman and Marine veteran who won the Republican nomination. The candidates are both political newcomers.For Dandiya, the campaign represents a move from education and public-sector leadership into electoral politics. She has connected that decision to her upbringing in Florida, her parents’ Indian roots and her experience working with students and public institutions.“I am running for Congress to make that American Dream more within reach for others,” she said in her campaign statement.
