Jaipur to US Congress: Pia Dandiya becomes second Indian-American woman to win House seat
Washington: Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya has won Florida's 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican candidate Casey Askar to secure a seat in the US House of Representatives. The 39-year-old has become the second Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, after Pramila Jayapal.
Dandiya secured 51.9 per cent of the votes, while Askar received 49.1 per cent, according to the results declared on Tuesday. Her victory also turned a closely contested Florida district blue, strengthening the Democratic Party's performance in the congressional elections.
Born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida, Dandiya is a first-generation American whose parents migrated from Jaipur, India, in the 1980s. Her father, Dr Rohit Dandiya, continued his medical practice in the US, while her mother established a Montessori school in Jupiter.
Dandiya grew up with strong connections to her Indian roots. Her parents frequently sent her to India during her childhood to spend time with her cousins, experiences she said helped shape her identity and understanding of different societies.
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From teaching in Delhi to leading a school in New York
Dandiya studied Government at Harvard University and later earned a master's degree in education from Boston University. During her time at Harvard, she spent a summer teaching English to children aged seven to 17 in the slums of New Delhi through the Asha Cooperative Society.
She later joined Teach For America as a teacher in Boston before becoming the founding principal of Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem, New York, at the age of 28.
The school primarily served students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with around 86 per cent of its students coming from low-income households. Every graduate secured admission to college, according to her campaign.
Dandiya also served as a White House Fellow in 2020, working with the White House Domestic Policy Council and the US Department of Education. She subsequently led public-sector initiatives at Apple and was appointed to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's P-20 Council.
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Cost of living, healthcare among key campaign issues
Dandiya focused her campaign on the rising cost of living, healthcare, education, corruption and gun safety. She argued that residents of South Florida were struggling with increasing expenses and were dissatisfied with political developments in Washington.
The election campaign saw substantial spending by both sides. Dandiya raised around $4.6 million by October 14, while Askar raised approximately $7.4 million, largely through loans to his own campaign.
Outside political groups also spent heavily on the contest. No Going Back PAC, funded by MAGA Inc., reported spending around $6.5 million against Dandiya, while the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC spent approximately $7.9 million against Askar.
Dandiya received support from the Indian American Impact Fund and Serve America PAC. She also secured an endorsement from Wellington's Republican mayor, Michael Napoleone.
Her victory is being seen as a significant milestone for Indian-American representation in the US Congress, adding another woman of Indian origin to the country's national legislature.
(With PTI inputs)