US Midterm Elections 2026: Indian-American Pia Dandiya defeats Marine veteran to win Florida congressional seat

Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya has won the election to the US House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd congressional district, defeating Marine veteran Casey Askar in a closely contested race.

Dandiya secured 51.9% of the votes, while Askar polled 49.1%, according to results declared on Tuesday. Her victory makes her the newest Indian-American woman to enter the US Congress.

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The first-generation American, whose parents migrated to the US from India, was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. She previously sought to contest against Republican Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, from the state's 21st congressional district.

However, she subsequently shifted her campaign to Florida's 22nd district, which was created through redistricting and did not have an incumbent in the race.

"Florida's 22nd District was one of the most competitive districts for Democrats, and Pia just turned it blue," Chintan Patel, Executive Director, Indian American Impact, said in a statement.

"Indian American Impact has been proud to support her from the beginning, and we congratulate her on her victory tonight," he said.

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Before entering politics, Dandiya worked as a teacher and later became a high school principal in Harlem, New York. According to her campaign website, she has also worked as a policy leader and technology innovator, focusing on strengthening communities.

At 28, she became the founding principal of a high school established to improve opportunities for students from low-income households and help them achieve economic independence.

The campaign website said every graduate of the school secured college admission, despite 86% of its students coming from low-income families.

Dandiya's election adds to the presence of Indian-origin representatives in the US Congress.

With inputs from agencies