Pia Dandiya
Pia Dandiya, a first-generation American born and raised in Palm Beach County, worked as a public school teacher and became a high school principal in Harlem at age 28; she later served as a White House Fellow and as an Apple executive leading public-sector partnerships in education, health care and state government. She originally launched a campaign against U.S. Rep. Brian Mast in the old 21st District and shifted to the new 22nd after the 2026 map was adopted. She won the Aug. 18, 2026 Democratic primary with about 61% over attorney Kaysia Earley. The DCCC placed her in its 'Red to Blue' program and her campaign reported crossing $2 million raised. She lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and son.
How they got on the ballot: Won Aug 18, 2026 Democratic primary with ~61.3% over Kaysia Earley (Florida Politics; NBC6)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $4,619,822, spent $3,884,717, cash on hand $735,105; $3,601,979 from individual donors, $339,872 from PACs, $247,000 from the candidate. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-09-19. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans disagree· stated position
Dandiya says she would raise taxes on billionaires and corporations to support social programs and opposes the cuts in the 2025 'One Big Beautiful Bill'; her website says the fairest way to keep programs strong is to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay more rather than balance the budget on working people.
"ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share — not to balance the budget on the backs of the people who built this country"
Housing affordability Leans agree· stated position
Would take on housing, insurance and everyday costs squeezing South Florida families.
"Take on the housing, insurance, and everyday costs squeezing South Florida families."
Abortion Strongly agrees· stated position
Supports reproductive rights.
"supports reproductive rights"
Health care Leans agree· stated position
Would protect Medicaid coverage.
"Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid"
Social Security & Medicare Strongly agrees· stated position
Pledges to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
"Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the veterans who served us."
Environment & water Leans agree· stated position
Supports Everglades restoration.
"Everglades restoration"
Gender identity laws Leans disagree· stated position
Supports LGBTQ+ equality.
"supports reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality"
Tariffs & trade Strongly disagrees· stated position
Dandiya has made ending President Trump's tariff policies a focus of her campaign.
Veterans Leans agree· stated position
Lists protecting veterans among her priorities.
"the veterans who served us"
No public position found on 8 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Immigration, Guns, Education & school choice, Elections & voting, Crime & policing, Energy & utilities, Ukraine, Trump administration. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Affordability and cost of living — Dandiya says she is running to 'take on the affordability crisis.'
- Anti-corruption in Congress — She says she wants to 'crack down on corruption in Congress.'Sources: Meet Pia Dandiya (campaign site)
- Universal pre-K and public education — Her launch agenda includes passing universal pre-K and investing in strengthening public education.
- Workforce preparation — She lists preparing Americans for 21st-century jobs among her legislative goals.
- Public schools, drug costs, stock trading — Dandiya proposes universal pre-K and fully funding public schools and teachers, supports lowering prescription drug costs, and supports a ban on congressional stock trading.
- Race rating moves — Fox News moved the open seat from 'Lean R' to 'Toss-up' on Sept. 22, and on Sept. 25 the Cook Political Report also opened it as a clear 'Toss Up.'
- Community roundtable with national Democrats — DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene held a community roundtable with Dandiya in Davie on Sept. 25 alongside Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich, Broward School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi and other local Democrats.
- Share of a $10 million Everytown and House Majority PAC advertising campaign — Everytown for Gun Safety's Victory Fund and House Majority PAC said on Oct. 6 that Dandiya is one of eight congressional candidates in five battleground states who will receive television and digital advertising support from a combined $10 million campaign. Dandiya has volunteered with Moms Demand Action. Florida Politics said Everytown did not immediately provide her share of the spending.
- Second general-election ad, 'Wrong,' on congressional stock trading — In an ad released Sept. 29 Dandiya pledged to fight to ban members of Congress from trading stocks and to work to lower health care costs, protect Social Security and Medicare and pass a middle-class tax cut. 'Congress is getting rich off their office while we get hit with rising costs,' she says in the spot.
- Scrutiny of her biography and Apple lobbying work — Florida Politics reported on Oct. 4 that Dandiya, whose biography describes her first as a teacher and high school principal, was registered as a lobbyist for Apple, earning more than $121,000 in the first five months of 2025 and almost $236,000 in 2024, and that her disclosures show a net worth of as much as $12.7 million. The Republican Party of Florida and the super PAC Stronger America Together, which has reported $63,638 in spending against her, criticized her over data centers. Her campaign said her Apple work focused on getting technology into classrooms and that she taught and ran schools for a decade.
- Canvass launch with Jamie Raskin — Dandiya opened a canvass in Wellington at noon on Saturday, Oct. 3 with U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Laura Jolly, House Democratic Leader-designate Christine Hunschofsky and two local Democratic candidates.
- Q3 fundraising announcement — Dandiya's campaign said Q3 was its strongest quarter, that nearly 24,000 people have contributed this cycle and that 93% of contributions were $100 or less; she said her message is 'lowering everyday costs, cracking down on corruption, and protecting your hard-earned benefits.'
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Placed in the DCCC's 'Red to Blue' program; campaign reported crossing $2 million raised.
- Originally launched in the old CD 21 against Rep. Brian Mast before shifting to the new CD 22 after redistricting.
Endorsements (as reported)
- EMILYs ListSources: Pia Dandiya - EMILYs List (2026)
- New Politics
- South Florida Sun Sentinel editorial board (Democratic primary)
- Dave Aronberg and Patrick Murphy (during CD 21 bid)
- U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel
- DCCC 'Red to Blue' program (July 28, 2026)
- Dolphin Democrats and the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus
- Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund (with House Majority PAC)
- U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (DCCC candidate-recruitment co-chair)
- Palm Beach Post Editorial Board