Pia Dandiya announces wave of endorsements in first week campaigning in new CD 22

Democrat Pia Dandiya just welcomed a passel of endorsements less than a week after pivoting her campaign to Florida’s newly drawn 22nd Congressional District.

Her backers span federal, state and local offices. Several previously endorsed her now-canceled bid in Florida’s 21st Congressional District, where she was competing in a Primary for the right to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast.

Dandiya left that challenge behind last week for CD 22, which, post-redistricting, now stretches inland from Florida’s southeastern coast to span parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties while extending deep into Hendry and Collier counties.

Her confirmed endorsers, per a campaign press note Thursday, include U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii; Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman; state Sen. Tina Scott Polsky; state Reps. Emily Gregory, Kelly Skidmore, and Debra Tendrich; Broward Mayor Mark Bogen; and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James.

Dandiya also received nods from former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Patrick Murphy, former Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg and progressive groups including Aspire PAC, Vote Mama, Serve America PAC, Democrats for Education Reform, Elect Democratic Women, New Democracy, Indian American IMPACT and AAPI Victory Fund.

“Pia Dandiya is exactly the kind of principled leader our community needs in Washington,” Frankel said.

“She has spent her career opening doors for families from all walks of life — in schools, at the White House, and in the private sector — and she will bring that same fight to Congress.”

Berman said she believes Dandiya “will fight tirelessly for our values — from strengthening public schools to protecting reproductive freedom, Social Security, and Medicare.”

Polsky praised Dandiya’s “deep knowledge of public policy and her passion for helping people.”

“Pia has the experience, empathy, and work ethic to lead on day one,” she added.

Gregory, who in March became the first Democrat in a generation to flip state House District 87 — which includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home — said Dandiya is running the kind of campaign it takes to win in a competitive district.

“It takes showing up everywhere, listening to voters candidates too often ignore, and running on the issues families actually care about — costs, schools, healthcare, and freedom,” she said. “The new 22nd is a competitive district, and Pia is the candidate who will win it.”

Dandiya, a former high school principal, White House Fellow, and Apple strategy manager, enters CD 22 after raising more than $1.57 million, with more than 12,000 individual donors across 50 states, during her CD 21 campaign.

She closed March with $1.17 million in cash on hand.

CD 22, as remapped through mid-decade redistricting Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged and approved, runs nearly coast to coast from Marco Island in Southwest Florida to Wellington in western Palm Beach County.

It has no incumbent after Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz opted to instead run in Florida’s nearby 20th Congressional District.

About 54.6% of voters in new CD 22 supported Trump in 2024, though more than 51% voted for Joe Biden in 2020, making it a genuine swing seat.

Republicans running there, for now, include Deborah Adeimy, David Burck, Michael Carbonara, Daniel Franzese, LaTeresa Jones, Anna Medvedeva, Antonio Srado, Michael Thompson and Herbert Wertheim.

The Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.