Pia Dandiya, the daughter of immigrants from Jaipur, Rajasthan, won Florida's 22nd Congressional District on 4 November 2026, becoming only the second Indian American woman ever elected to the US House of Representatives, after Representative Pramila Jayapal. The Democrat defeated Republican businessman Casey Askar, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ, CBS News, and NBC News.

With approximately 99 per cent of the expected vote counted, NBC News showed Dandiya ahead by roughly 52 per cent to 48 per cent. The network noted the race had shifted about 14 points toward Democrats compared with the 2024 presidential vote — a swing that underscored the competitive nature of a district that leans Republican by registration.

From Jaipur to Jupiter to Capitol Hill

Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Dandiya grew up in Jupiter, Florida, where her parents settled after emigrating from Jaipur in the 1980s. Her father, Dr Rohit Dandiya, continued his medical practice after relocating, while her mother — then 40 — founded a Montessori school in Jupiter, initially for her daughter.

Dandiya recalled that her parents sent her on solo trips to India as a child to connect with family and culture. '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.

Education, Teaching and Public Service

Dandiya studied government at Harvard University and earned a master's in education from Boston University. After her freshman year at Harvard, she spent a summer teaching English to children aged 7 to 17 in the slums of New Delhi with the Asha Cooperative Society. She later taught with Teach For America in Boston and, at the age of 28, became the founding principal of Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem, where about 86 per cent of students were from low-income households. According to her campaign, every graduate was admitted to college.

She served as a White House Fellow in 2020, working with the White House Domestic Policy Council and the US Department of Education. She subsequently led public-sector initiatives at Apple, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker appointed her to the state's P-20 Council.

A Hard-Fought, High-Spending Race

This was Dandiya's first run for elected office. She initially filed to contest the 21st District against Republican Brian Mast before moving to the open 22nd District following Florida's mid-decade redistricting. She won the Democratic primary on 18 August.

The district's voter registration tilts Republican, with approximately 1,85,000 Republicans, 1,46,000 Democrats, and 1,50,000 voters with other affiliations, according to Florida Politics. Despite the structural disadvantage, Dandiya's campaign raised about $4.6 million through 14 October, while Askar raised about $7.4 million — roughly $6.8 million of which came from loans to his own campaign, Federal Election Commission records show.

Outside spending was also substantial. No Going Back PAC, a super PAC funded by MAGA Inc., reportedly spent about $6.5 million against Dandiya by 24 October, per FEC filings. House Majority PAC, the main Democratic super PAC for House races, spent about $7.9 million against Askar.

Endorsements and Campaign Platform

Dandiya campaigned 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.

Her endorsers included the Indian American Impact Fund, Serve America PAC, and Wellington's Republican mayor Michael Napoleone, who crossed party lines to back her. 'I've always believed that the person matters more than the party, and Pia has earned my respect and my endorsement,' Napoleone said. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned alongside her on 26 October.

Historic Milestone for Indian Americans

Representative Pramila Jayapal welcomed the win on X, posting: '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!!!' The victory preserves and expands the Indian American 'Samosa Caucus' in the new Congress.

Dandiya lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband, Navneet Alag, and their son, Sahib. Her win signals that Indian American representation in the lower chamber of the US legislature is deepening — and that the diaspora's political influence, rooted in communities from Jaipur to Jupiter, is still growing.