Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya wins Florida seat in US House

Indian American Pia Dandiya won the election to the US House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd congressional district, defeating Casey Askar, a Marine veteran. Dandiya, a former high school principal, bagged 51.9 per cent of the votes to become the newest Indian-American US congresswoman, as per the results declared on Tuesday. Her opponent Askar polled 49.1 per cent of the votes. Born to parents who migrated to the US from India, Dandiya had earlier sought to challenge Republican Brian Mast, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, from Florida's 21st district. The former high school principal later shifted to South Florida 22nd district that was carved out in redistricting and where no incumbent was in the fray. "Florida's 22nd District was one of the most competitive districts for Democrats, and Pia just turned it blue," Chintan Patel, Executive Director, Indian American Impact, said in a statement. "Indian American Impact has been proud to support her from th