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

Pia Dandiya, the daughter of immigrants from Jaipur, Rajasthan, has won Florida's 22nd Congressional District, becoming the second Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives after Pramila Jayapal. The Democrat defeated Republican businessman Casey Askar in her first electoral contest, marking a significant milestone for the Indian-American community in US politics.

Decision Desk HQ and CBS News projected Dandiya's victory. NBC News also declared her the projected winner, showing her ahead by approximately 52% to 48%, with around 99% of the expected vote counted. The result marked a swing of about 14 percentage points towards Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential election.

From Jaipur to Florida: Pia Dandiya's Indian Roots

Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Dandiya grew up in Jupiter, where her parents settled after emigrating from Jaipur in the 1980s. Her father, Dr Rohit Dandiya, continued practising medicine in the US, while her mother founded a Montessori school in Jupiter at the age of 40, initially establishing it for her daughter.

Dandiya maintained strong connections with her Indian heritage. Her parents sent her to India as a child to spend time with her cousins, experiences she later described as instrumental in shaping her identity.

"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.

After her freshman year at Harvard, she spent a summer teaching English to children aged seven to 17 in the slums 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.

Harvard Graduate Who Built a Career in Education and Public Service

Dandiya studied government at Harvard University and earned a master's degree in education from Boston University. She taught with Teach For America in Boston before becoming the founding principal of Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem at the age of 28.

According to her campaign, around 86 per cent of the school's students came from low-income households, and every graduate secured college admission.

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

In 2020, Dandiya became a White House Fellow, serving on the White House Domestic Policy Council and at the US Department of Education. She later led public-sector initiatives at Apple. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also appointed her to the state's P-20 Council.

When the Indian American Impact Fund endorsed her in 2025, Dandiya said: "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."

First Election Contest, Constituency Change and Democratic Victory

Dandiya initially filed to contest Florida's 21st Congressional District against Republican Brian Mast. However, following the state's mid-decade redistricting, she moved to the open 22nd District and won the Democratic primary on August 18.

The constituency was considered challenging for Democrats, with approximately 1,85,000 registered Republicans, 1,46,000 Democrats and 1,50,000 voters with other affiliations, according to Florida Politics.

Her campaign focused on the cost of living, corruption, healthcare, education and gun safety.

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

Millions Spent on Florida Congressional Race

The contest attracted substantial campaign spending. By October 14, Dandiya had raised approximately $4.6 million, compared with Askar's $7.4 million. Most of Askar's funding came from loans to his own campaign, with his self-financing reaching around $6.8 million, according to Federal Election Commission records.

No Going Back PAC, a super PAC funded by MAGA Inc., reported spending approximately $6.5 million against Dandiya by October 24. House Majority PAC, the main Democratic super PAC for House races, spent around $7.9 million against Askar.

Dandiya received endorsements from the Indian American Impact Fund and Serve America PAC, as well as Wellington's Republican Mayor Michael Napoleone.

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

Former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also campaigned with Dandiya on October 26.

Pramila Jayapal Welcomes Dandiya to US House

Dandiya's victory drew congratulations from Indian-American lawmakers. Representative Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman elected to the US House, welcomed her win on X.

"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!!!" Jayapal posted.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also congratulated Dandiya, saying she had focused on South Florida's affordability crisis and ensuring that everyone had an opportunity to achieve the American Dream.

Her victory adds to the presence of Indian-American lawmakers in the US Congress, popularly known as the 'Samosa Caucus'.

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