The contentious congressional race in Florida's 22nd District between businessman Casey Askar and former teacher Pia Dandiya is starting to take form, but it appears as if the race will be defined by who will offer substantive solutions and who will not.
Dandiya is running on changing Washington, D.C., education reform, and helping everyday Americans negotiate the current economic climate in the country, but has yet to offer any substantive solutions on how she will address any of the issues facing American families.
The former "restorative practices" or DEI educator has reverted to attacking Askar over his businesses and has only offered Democratic Party talking points.
"You deserve leaders who have real solutions to your everyday problems," stated Dandiya on social media.
Outside of asserting issues-related political talking points like this, Dandiya does not offer much. The campaign appears to simply be running off the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) bullet points alleging that Askar is a "shady" businessman.
On the other hand, Askar appears to be offering up solutions, and just released "The Askar Education Plan: The ABCs to Learning in America."
The education platform details Askar's push and support for school choice, merit-based wages and bonuses for educators, pressing for civics education, and a focus on parental rights.
Here are the "ABCs" of the plan:
—Parental Rights in Education, where the parents have the only say in how their children are educated
— Universal School Choice
—A federal Parents’ Bill of Rights
— Returning education controls to the states
—Affordable housing in support of education
— An increase to the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit
— Wage increases for teachers and merit-based bonuses
—Cutting the wasteful and excessive spending in the Department of Education
—Promoting and implementing civics education in the classroom
—Continue bringing much-needed cancer and technology research to higher education institutions within
Askar's education plan just co-opted and gutted Dandiya's political plan of being the education reform candidate.
The initiative comes on the heels of two economic initiatives to help give voters relief at the pump and at the grocery story.
Askar recently introduced his "Cut the Gas Tax" and "Boost the Child Tax Credit" initiatives.
As far as addressing Dandiya, Askar is effectively contrasting himself to her.
While Dandiya is solely attacking Askar over the endorsement he received from President Donald Trump and on alleged "shady" business practices, Askar is simply pointed out the stark ideological differences between him and his opponent.
Askar has recently asserted that Dandiya is "not qualified" to represent voters.
"We need educators around the table in DC making decisions in the best interest of our kids," stated Dandiya.
Askar may have just relegated Dandiya to kid's table.
