National endorsements pour in for Pia Dandiya as she takes on Brian Mast

A Democrat hoping to flip Florida’s 21st Congressional District is trumpeting endorsements from a former United States Secretary of Education and two sitting members of Congress.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Congressman Ro Khanna, and Congresswoman Annie Kuster are all on board with Pia Dandiya as she works to unseat Brian Mast.

Duncan, a Barack Obama appointee, notes that Dandiya is “a true leader shaped by her service as a teacher, principal, and policy maker” and “the only former school principal across the country running for Congress.”

“Pia has spent her career in public education fighting for students who are too often overlooked, and she brings a true understanding of what works to improve outcomes for schools and families,” Duncan adds.

Khanna, a California Democrat who is quickly getting a national reputation for new-school pragmatism, says Dandiya “understands what working families truly need: good jobs, affordable childcare, strong schools, and a chance to build a secure future.”

“With experience as a teacher, high school principal, and tech-innovation leader — and a deep commitment to defending Social Security, Medicare, and our rights — Pia will put people over politics and fight for economic freedom,” Khanna adds.

“Pia is uniquely positioned to serve this district, with deep roots in this community and impressive experience in DC as a White House Fellow. Pia has the right message for this moment, has created the change we want to see in communities, and the unique ability to connect with voters across different walks of life,” Kuster adds.

Dandiya, who managed Apple strategic initiatives in the Southeast before launching her campaign, has already raised more than $783,000 from more than 2,500 donors, including contributors from every city in Florida’s 21st Congressional District and from 48 states.

While Dandiya faces primary opposition, she is the only candidate to report six-figures worth of fundraising to date, and she is seeing meaningful support from inside and outside the state, as the latest endorsements suggest.

Mast is not among the GOP incumbents currently targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but his district has been a battleground in the past. He first won office in 2016, flipping a district previously represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Redistricting in 2022 made the district a safer Republican seat. Nearly 58% of voters in the district in November voted for Donald Trump for President, according to MCI Maps. Mast won 62% of the vote in his own re-election bid.