Pia Dandiya, a former high school principal and Indian-American Democrat, has made history by winning Florida’s 22nd Congressional District in the 2026 US midterm elections. She triumphed over Republican Casey Askar in one of South Florida's most closely watched races, becoming the first Indian-American elected to the US House from Florida and the tenth nationally.
Dandiya, 39, secured 51.9% of the vote, totaling 151,926 votes, against Askar’s 48.1%. Major news outlets, including Decision Desk HQ, CBS News, and NBC News, called the race in her favor with nearly all expected votes counted.
A Journey from Education to Congress
Born and raised in Palm Beach County to Indian immigrant parents, Dandiya's personal narrative deeply influences her political identity. Her academic journey includes studying government at Harvard University and earning a master's degree in education from Boston University. During her undergraduate years, she gained an early commitment to educational equity by teaching English to children in New Delhi's slum communities.
Her professional career began with Teach For America, where she worked in underserved schools. At just 28, Dandiya founded and led Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem, establishing herself as one of the youngest high school principals in the United States. Her experience also includes a prestigious White House Fellowship, serving on the White House Domestic Policy Council and with the US Department of Education under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Prior to her congressional bid, she worked at Apple, assisting state and local governments in modernizing education, healthcare, and public services through technology.
Campaign and Legislative Priorities
Dandiya’s 2026 campaign for Florida’s 22nd District, a newly redrawn seat encompassing parts of Palm Beach, Broward, Hendry, and Collier counties, focused on key issues such as education, affordability, and expanding economic opportunity. Her opponent, Marine veteran and Republican candidate Casey Askar, mounted a strong challenge, but Dandiya's margin of approximately 3.8 percentage points was decisive.
As she prepares to take office, Pia Dandiya's legislative agenda is expected to prominently feature the issues that defined her campaign. Her victory not only signifies a personal achievement but also underscores the increasing political representation of Indian-Americans both in Florida and across the nation.