WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Diya TV) — Democratic congressional candidate Pia Dandiya has shifted her campaign to Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District after a sweeping South Florida redistricting overhaul reshaped the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Dandiya announced the move after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan that changed district boundaries across the region. The new map has already triggered major campaign changes among both Democrats and Republicans. The candidate had previously launched a campaign against Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast in Florida’s 21st Congressional District. She will now compete in the open 22nd District instead.
“Ready to bring the fight. And honored to be in the race!” Dandiya wrote on social media after entering the contest.
The redistricting plan dramatically altered congressional boundaries in South Florida. Political analysts expect the changes to influence several key races during the 2026 election cycle. The new 22nd Congressional District now stretches nearly coast-to-coast across Florida. The district runs from Marco Island in Southwest Florida to Wellington in Broward County. It also shares part of its northern border with the neighboring 21st District.
The reshaped district leans Republican based on recent voting trends. According to data reported by Florida Politics, about 54.6% of voters inside the district’s new boundaries supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Under the previous map, the same area backed Joe Biden with more than 51% of the vote in 2020.
The changes came shortly after Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she would seek reelection in Florida’s 20th Congressional District under the revised map. Her decision opened the door for Dandiya’s campaign switch and added another layer to the rapidly shifting South Florida political landscape.
Dandiya enters the 22nd District race with strong financial backing and support from top Florida Democrats. Campaign finance reports show she ended March with $1.17 million cash on hand. She also emerged as the leading Democratic fundraiser among candidates who planned to challenge Mast in the 21st District.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has endorsed Dandiya’s campaign. The endorsement gives Dandiya added visibility as Democrats look to compete in newly drawn districts across the state. Political observers say fundraising strength could become a major advantage in the expensive South Florida media market. Candidates in competitive Florida congressional races often spend millions of dollars on television ads, digital outreach, and voter mobilization efforts.
Dandiya has centered much of her campaign around her background in education and public service. A first-generation American raised in Jupiter, Florida, Dandiya previously worked as a teacher and school principal before entering politics. Her campaign frequently highlights her experience founding a high-performing high school in New York that served low-income students.
She has also focused on education policy, economic opportunity, and community investment in her public messaging. Supporters say her background gives her firsthand experience with issues facing working families and public schools. Her campaign hopes that the message will resonate with voters across the newly configured district.
Florida remains one of the nation’s most closely watched political battlegrounds. The new congressional map is expected to attract significant national attention as both parties prepare for the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a strong advantage in many parts of the state, but Democrats hope candidate recruitment and fundraising can help them stay competitive in several districts.
