Indian-American educator and political professional Pia Dandia has moved her US Congressional campaign to Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd District, moving from her previous bid in District 21 as she enters a closely watched open race in the state, American Bazaar reported.Dandiya is a former high school principal and director of technology. It operates on a platform focused on lowering the cost of living, promoting public education, and supporting middle-class families. Her campaign comes after a redistricting plan approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis mid-decade reshaped many congressional boundaries, turning the 22nd District into a competitive swing seat in South Florida.If elected, she will become the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress, reflecting the state’s growing Indian American population.Dandia was born and raised in Palm Beach County. She is a first-generation Indian American whose parents immigrated from India in search of better opportunities. Her early exposure to educational work included volunteer work during her college years, when she taught English to children in slums in New Delhi, an experience she said shaped her focus on educational equity.
She currently lives in Palm Beach County with her husband and son.She began her career in education, working as a teacher in low-income schools where she reported strong student outcomes, with more than 90% of her students reaching state proficiency levels. At the age of 28, she founded an independent high school in Harlem, New York, and became one of the youngest school principals in the United States. The school has continued to achieve strong academic results, with all of its graduates gaining university admission despite most students coming from low-income backgrounds.She later served as a fellow at the White House, where she worked with the Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education, before moving to the private sector. In this role, she worked at Apple on public sector initiatives including education, healthcare, and government systems.Her campaign focuses on reducing everyday costs, including gas, groceries and health care, through measures such as negotiating prescription drug prices.
It also supports universal pre-K, increased investment in public schools, expanded vocational training, and protected Social Security and Medicare.Dandiya also received support from Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, and reported having a campaign fund of $1.17 million in cash. This makes her a strong contender in the Democratic primary for the new competitive district.
