Belinda Keiser rolls out four congressional endorsements in CD 22 as qualifying week begins

Four Republican members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation are endorsing Belinda Keiser in her race for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, where she’s running to replace U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

U.S. Reps Aaron Bean, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis are all offering support to the Keiser University Vice Chancellor as she wages battle in what has become an increasingly crowded Republican Primary.

“I have known Belinda for years, and I am proud to support her bid to join the Republican Caucus in the U.S. Congress,” Bean said. “Belinda is an energetic worker and has given not only her time and talent to education in Florida, but also to issues that make our state great, and I know she will take that same drive to Washington. Belinda has supported me for years, and I am proud to call her a friend and endorse her for CD 22.”

Dunn, who is leaving office after this term, said he was proud to offer his support.

“Belinda has served our state well leading her private sector work, which has helped propel many young professionals into the workforce. She knows what Florida needs and has demonstrated that with her support of Republican ideals and principles. Belinda would be an excellent addition to the caucus and the effort to continue to Make America Great,” he said.

Added Fine: “Belinda has been a friend since I first entered politics, and I have seen firsthand what she has done to fight for Florida. She has been a champion for our nation-leading higher education system and the future of every Florida student. Belinda has done so much for this state, and I could not be more excited for her to join me in the fight in Washington to Make America Great Again!”

Patronis, the newest of the members of Congress to support Keiser, called her “a friend and a fighter.”

“Everything she does, she does with excellence, and that is why she is the best person to represent CD 22. Belinda has devoted her entire career to helping her community and others grow and achieve. She will bring that same commitment to Washington. She will fight to lower taxes, cut red tape and keep Florida Free.”

Keiser called the latest endorsements an honor.

“These great Republican leaders in Congress and outstanding Floridians have demonstrated their commitment to America First principles and policies, and they have always put our nation first,” she said. “If I have the privilege of representing CD 22 this coming November, I would be honored to join them in the Republican Caucus and follow the legacy that Congressman Dunn will leave behind as he retires from public service.”

Keiser entered the race last week as a self-described America First conservative. She is a job creator and workforce development leader who has lived in the district as it is now drawn for the past 36 years.

The newly reconfigured 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.

Under Keiser’s leadership, Keiser University, which 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.

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.