Pia Dandiya wins Florida seat to join US House of Representatives
The Indian-American Democrat became the second Indian-American woman elected to the US House after defeating Republican Casey Askar.
Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya won Florida's 22nd Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating Republican candidate Casey Askar, according to Mathrubhumi. The 39-year-old Dandiya secured 51.9 per cent of the vote, while Askar received 48.1 per cent to 49.1 per cent. This victory makes her the second Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, following Pramila Jayapal.
Dandiya is a first-generation American whose parents migrated from Jaipur, India, in the 1980s. She previously worked as a White House Fellow and held roles in the technology sector at Apple. Her professional background includes serving as a founding principal of a high school in Harlem, New York, where 86 per cent of students were from low-income households.
During her campaign, Dandiya addressed issues such as the increasing expenses for groceries, fuel, and medical care. She also focused on the costs of education, gun safety, and corruption. Her platform included support for reproductive rights and protecting Social Security and Medicare.
The election involved significant spending from both sides. Dandiya raised approximately $4.6 million by October 14, while Askar raised about $7.4 million, largely through loans to his campaign. Outside groups also contributed, with the House Majority PAC spending approximately $7.9 million against Askar and the No Going Back PAC spending around $6.5 million against Dandiya.
