Democrat Pia Dandiya has won Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District, defeating Trump-backed Republican Casey Askar to secure a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
SOUTH FLORIDA — Democrat Pia Dandiya has secured Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican candidate Casey Askar in a closely monitored South Florida race, CBS News projects.
Dandiya’s victory marks a significant Democratic pickup under Florida’s revised congressional map, which state lawmakers approved in May 2026 as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting effort ahead of the midterm elections. The newly shaped district forms an expansive geographic footprint—stretching from Palm Beach County through portions of Broward and Hendry counties, cutting across the Everglades, and extending west to Marco Island in Collier County.
A Palm Beach County native and daughter of Indian immigrants, Dandiya brought a varied background to her candidacy, having worked as a Harlem high school principal, a White House Fellow, and an Apple executive. Her campaign centered largely on kitchen-table priorities, emphasizing public education, affordability, and broader economic opportunity. She won the Democratic nomination in August after defeating attorney Kaysia Earley.
Her opponent, Naples businessman and Marine Corps veteran Casey Askar, campaigned heavily on an “America First” platform aligned with Donald Trump’s policies, drawing from his business background in restaurant franchising after surviving a competitive, well-funded Republican primary.
With her victory, Dandiya is set to take the oath of office and represent the newly configured district when the 120th Congress convenes this coming January.
