Florida Democrats appear to have a frontrunner in the primary race for Congressional District 22, as educator Pia Dandiya has just pivoted from Congressional District 21 into the newly-drawn district that spans from Naples to western Palm Beach County.
Dandiya was challenging Rep. Brian Mast (R) in Congressional District 21, but after the new redistricting maps came out, CD 21 became a safer seat for Rep. Mast, and Dandiya moved to the safer, newly-drawn 22nd District, which Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) is currently representing.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz decided not to run in CD 22, opting to run in the safer Democrat-leaning 20th Congressional District.
“This decision came after a great deal of thought and reflection. Ultimately, redistricting fundamentally reshaped the political map, raising the stakes to flip the House in November,” said Dandiya. “Over and over again, I hear from voters who want a representative who will legislate for the future, bring people together and serve as a real check on the Trump administration. That’s exactly the kind of leadership I will bring to the newly formed 22nd District.”
Dandiya is all but running away with the Democratic nomination in this congressional district, piling up a mountain of campaign cash, and scoring a laundry list of endorsements, including the support of fellow progressive Democrats Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Jill Tokuda.
Both Reps. Khanna and Toduka are members of the House Progressive Caucus
In addition, Dandiya also scored the support of Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party.
As we mentioned, Dandiya is flush with cash.
According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Dandiya has raised $1,575,117.24 to date and has $1,171,646.54 cash on hand. She has also loaned her campaign $197,000
If and when Dandiya wins her primary race, she will then face the winner of the Republican congressional primary contest between businessman and Trump ally Casey Askar, businessman Michael Carbonara, Officer David Burck, Attorney Deborah Adeimy, and Dr. Herbie Wertheim.
Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser has not announced candidacy but has filed her candidacy with the FEC.
The general election in this race will most likely be a contest between a Trump-backed Republican and the progressive Dandiya.
This is a race national Republicans are closely watching.
