Pete Buttigieg backs Indian American Pia Dandiya as Florida's CD-22 race hits dead heat
Synopsis
A week before Florida's 3 November vote, Pete Buttigieg — a potential 2028 presidential contender — showed up in Plantation to campaign for Indian American candidate Pia Dandiya. A super PAC poll now shows her deadlocked with Republican Casey Askar at 46.3% vs 45.5%, and the Cook Political Report has shifted the race to 'Toss-up' in a district redrawn to favour Republicans by nearly 38,500 voters.
Key Takeaways
Pete Buttigieg campaigned alongside Pia Dandiya in Plantation, Florida on Monday ahead of the 3 November election.
A RedBox Research poll shows Dandiya at 46.3% and Republican Casey Askar at 45.5% , a statistical tie within a 5.1-point margin of error.
The Cook Political Report has moved the race from 'Lean Republican' to 'Toss-up'; Decision Desk HQ gives Askar a 58% win probability as of 23 October .
Askar holds a cash advantage with nearly $1.9 million on hand versus Dandiya's $735,000 , and has self-funded approximately $6.7 million this cycle.
Outside spending exceeds $14 million combined, with $6.5 million spent against Dandiya and $7.84 million against Askar.
If elected, Dandiya would be among a small number of Indian Americans serving in the US Congress.
Former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has hit the campaign trail in Florida's 22nd Congressional District for Indian American Democratic candidate Pia Dandiya, as a new super PAC-sponsored poll placed the race in a statistical tie just days before the 3 November election. The development signals rising national attention on a contest that was once considered safely Republican.
Buttigieg Joins the Canvass in Plantation
Buttigieg joined Dandiya on Monday at a canvassing launch in Plantation, Florida. A widely discussed potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, Buttigieg has been strategically targeting competitive House races across the country to bolster the party's congressional prospects.
'I'm thrilled to host Pete in the 22nd District, as we work to build a campaign bigger than any one of us,' Dandiya said. 'He represents the kind of common-sense leadership we need, and his support is a true honour.'
Dandiya also posted on X: 'So grateful for @PeteButtigieg for joining our amazing canvass launch!! Plantation showed out.'
Poll Shows a Statistical Tie
A survey commissioned by A Fight Worth Having, a super PAC, and conducted by its polling unit RedBox Research, found Dandiya at 46.3% and Republican challenger Casey Askar at 45.5% — a margin well within the poll's 5.1-point error range. The survey covered 550 likely voters and was conducted between 20 and 23 October, with results released on 25 October.
Independents favoured Dandiya by a wide margin — 56.8% to 24.9%. Men leaned toward Dandiya, while women narrowly favoured Askar, according to the poll.
Notably, the Cook Political Report has shifted its rating of the race from 'Lean Republican' to 'Toss-up', reflecting the tightening contest. Decision Desk HQ's forecast model, however, gave Askar a 58% chance of winning as of 23 October.
Money War: Askar Holds a Cash Edge
Askar, a businessman, enters the final stretch with a significant financial advantage. He reported nearly $1.9 million in cash on hand as of 14 October, compared with roughly $735,000 for Dandiya. Askar has also lent his own campaign approximately $6.7 million this election cycle, of which $400,000 has been repaid.
Outside money is flowing in from both sides. No Going Back PAC, a super PAC backed by MAGA Inc., has reportedly spent around $6.5 million against Dandiya, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Meanwhile, House Majority PAC has reported spending $7.84 million against Askar.
The District's Redrawn Boundaries and What's at Stake
Florida's 22nd Congressional District was once a Democratic stronghold, but Republican-led redistricting created a voter registration advantage of roughly 38,500 in favour of the GOP. Approximately 55% of voters in the redrawn district backed President Donald Trump in 2024. Democratic incumbent Lois Frankel chose not to seek re-election, leaving the seat open.
Dandiya, a former educator and technology executive, is enrolled in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) Red to Blue programme, which provides support for Democrats competing in Republican-leaning districts. If elected, she would join a small group of Indian Americans currently serving in Congress.
Early voting in Florida runs through 31 October, with Election Day on 3 November. The outcome could carry implications for the balance of power in the House.
Point of View
500-voter registration edge, and yet Dandiya is in a dead heat a week out. That alone is the headline. Buttigieg's visit is as much about his own 2028 positioning as it is about the seat — high-profile surrogates rarely travel for races they consider lost. The poll was commissioned by a Democratic-aligned super PAC, which warrants caution, but the Cook Political Report's independent 'Toss-up' call lends it credibility. With over $14 million in outside spending already deployed, this has become a proxy war over the House majority, and the outcome will be read nationally as a test of whether redistricting alone can inoculate Republicans from competitive cycles.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pia Dandiya and why is she significant?
Pia Dandiya is an Indian American former educator and technology executive running as a Democrat in Florida's 22nd Congressional District. If elected, she would be among a small number of Indian Americans serving in the US Congress, and her race has attracted national attention as a potential upset in a Republican-leaning district.
What does the latest poll show in Florida's CD-22 race?
A RedBox Research poll commissioned by the super PAC A Fight Worth Having found Dandiya at 46.3% and Republican Casey Askar at 45.5%, a statistical tie within the poll's 5.1-point margin of error. The survey of 550 likely voters was conducted between 20 and 23 October 2026.
Why has the Cook Political Report changed its rating of this race?
The Cook Political Report shifted Florida's 22nd Congressional District from 'Lean Republican' to 'Toss-up', reflecting a tightening contest despite the district having been redrawn to give Republicans a registration advantage of approximately 38,500 voters. Decision Desk HQ still gives Askar a 58% win probability.
Who has more money in the Florida CD-22 race?
Republican Casey Askar holds a significant cash advantage, reporting nearly $1.9 million on hand as of 14 October versus Dandiya's approximately $735,000. Askar has also self-funded around $6.7 million this election cycle. Outside groups have spent over $14 million combined on the race.
When is the election in Florida's 22nd Congressional District?
Election Day is 3 November 2026. Early voting in Florida runs through 31 October, giving voters an opportunity to cast ballots before polling day.
