Belinda Keiser brings South Florida trailblazer star power to CD 22 race

Belinda Keiser, a self-described America First conservative, has launched her campaign for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, adding her name to a list of several Republicans vying for the open seat.

Keiser is a job creator and workforce development leader who has lived in the district as it is now drawn for the past 36 years.

“I’m proud to launch my campaign today and ask for my community’s support, because I believe the people of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District deserve a conservative fighter who will stand up for American values and put America first,” Keiser said.

“I understand the challenges families and businesses are facing every day. I have spent four decades helping create opportunities, strengthen our economy, and prepare thousands of Floridians for successful careers. I know what it takes to grow jobs, support the business community, and help working families thrive.”

The new CD 22 stretches essentially coast to coast, from Marco Island in Southwest Florida to just about the Atlantic coast.

The current CD 22 is represented by U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat, but she was drawn out of the district and into Florida’s 23rd Congressional District.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz had been expected to run in the newly drawn CD 22, but opted instead to run in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, a majority Black district where Democrats have a better shot of winning. Her decision made CD 22 essentially an open race.

Keiser enters the race running on a record as a strong advocate, entrepreneur and workforce development leader who currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Keiser University, the Florida-based, not-for-profit university she helped grow for nearly 50 years.

Under Keiser’s leadership, the higher education institution her husband’s family founded has become one of Florida’s largest not-for-profit universities, educating more than 20,000 students across 18 Florida campuses and employing more than 4,000 team members.

The school has partnered with thousands of employers in key economic sectors to help meet Florida’s growing workforce needs, creating an estimated annual economic impact of $5.9 billion in the state, and producing 44,700 Florida jobs.

Keiser is also running as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, and as a staunch conservative. She was a Florida Presidential Elector to the U.S. Electoral College in 2024, casting a ballot for Trump. She also served as a Florida at-large delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Keiser also served as a Women for Trump Advisory Board member in 2020, a senior advisor for Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Trump in 2024, and an Asian Americans for Trump Advisory Board member in 2020.

“As the daughter of a U.S. Air Force veteran and a mother who survived World War II, I also have a deep appreciation for the freedoms and opportunities that make America exceptional. In Congress, I will fight alongside President Trump to lower costs for families, support our law enforcement officers and first responders, stand with our military, protect our constitutional freedoms, expand economic opportunity, create more jobs, and preserve the American Dream,” Keiser said.

“I am ready to be your advocate as a strong conservative voice for South Florida in Congress and deliver the leadership our communities deserve.”

Keiser’s résumé already boasts work as a respected civic leader, working closely with Republican elected officials and earning appointments to several commissions and boards.

Former Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to the Board of Directors for Space Florida, and Gov. Ron DeSantis later reappointed her. Scott also appointed her to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.

Former Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis appointed Keiser to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, while former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody appointed her to the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet.

Keiser also received gubernatorial appointments to the boards of Enterprise Florida, the Foundation for Florida’s Future, the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, the Florida Council of 100, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force, and Workforce Florida, Inc., now known as CareerSource Florida.

Under the new iteration of CD 22, Republicans have an advantage, though the seat is still expected to be competitive. Under the new lines, the district went for Trump with just shy of 55% of the vote in 2024. But former President Joe Biden carried it in 2020 with 51% of the vote.

Keiser has committed to investing $1 million of her own money into her campaign, a move that will give her a financial edge in a crowded GOP Primary and, if she’s the Republican nominee, in the General Election.

So far, seven Republicans have already filed for the CD 22 race. Michael Carbonara shifted to the CD 22 race after redistricting and will be a top GOP contender, with $2.3 million of his own cash infused into the race.

Herbert Wertheim is currently listed as a CD 22 candidate and has pumped $2.5 million of his own funds into his campaign, but it’s unclear if he intends to shift races following redistricting.

Other candidates who could wage serious campaigns are Casey Askar and Michael Thompson, big names from Southwest Florida. Both only entered the race recently though and haven’t yet posted fundraising numbers.

Thompson is a former Lee County Republican Executive Committee Chair. Askar is a Naples business owner behind Askar Office Portfolio, which includes Askar Brands, Askar Properties and Askar Management Group. He’s also a major franchisee of Church’s Chicken, Dunkin’ Donuts and other national brands.

Pia Dandiya is the leading Democrat in the race.