Democrat Pia Dandiya and Republican Casey Askar are projected to win their respective primary elections for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. The two candidates will face each other in the general election for the open seat, which covers parts of Broward County and the outskirts of Naples.
The district became open following a state redistricting effort that introduced a new congressional map. Rep. Lois Frankel (D), who has represented the district since 2023, chose to seek reelection in the neighboring 23rd District. Other incumbents in the region, including Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), also opted to run in different districts despite living within the new boundaries of the 22nd.
Askar, a Marine veteran, emerged from a Republican primary field that included cryptocurrency entrepreneur Michael Carbonara and university administrator Belinda Keiser. Askar received an endorsement from Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). Dandiya, a former educator, defeated attorney Kaysia Earley in the Democratic primary. She had originally campaigned for Florida’s 21st District against Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) before moving her candidacy to the 22nd District after the new maps were finalized.
The primary results mean that the approximately 700,000 residents typically found in a Florida congressional district will choose between a Marine veteran and a former educator to represent their interests in Washington. The scale of investment in this race is highlighted by the DCCC's involvement, which indicates the seat is viewed by national leadership as a competitive target. The redistricting that created this open seat has already shifted the political landscape, causing three incumbent members of Congress to seek election in different districts rather than run in the revamped 22nd.
Residents will notice a change in representation as Rep. Lois Frankel, who has held the seat for three years, moves to a different district. The new representative will handle federal constituent services, including assistance with Social Security and veterans' benefits, for the updated geographic area. The general election is scheduled for November 2026, following the conclusion of the August 18 primary contests. Neither candidate has yet reported a specific implementation date for new policy platforms as they transition to the general election campaign.