The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding Florida’s newly drawn 22nd District to its list of target seats in its effort to win back control of the U.S. House in November.
The DCCC is directing extra resources into roughly 50 open or Republican-held districts nationwide that the party sees as flippable in their favor in November. The latest addition marks the second district in South Florida on the group’s target list, which also includes María Elvira Salazar. The DCCC targeted Salazar in the 2024 election cycle as well, but failed to oust her.
Florida’s 22nd District stretches from Davie north to Royal Palm Beach and across the state to Marco Island, after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature redrew Florida’s voting maps in a way that created four more Republican-leaning seats in the state — including this one. Previously, the 22nd District was a compact, solidly blue seat primarily in Palm Beach County.
“Republicans’ cynical attempt to subvert the will of Florida voters continues to backfire,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement. “Democrats are keeping South Florida blue.”
Now, former teacher and school founder Pia Dandiya is leading the Democratic fundraising field for the 22nd District, with more than $1.5 million in her campaign accounts. The Republican field is crowded with wealthy business owners including Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser, franchising and real estate CEO Casey Askar, crypto investor Michael Carbonara and four other candidates.