The Indian American Impact Fund has endorses Pia Dandiya for Congress in Florida’s 21st District, where she is running to unseat Republican incumbent Brian Mast in one of the most competitive races of 2026.
If elected, Dandiya would become the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress, a historic milestone for a state with a large and fast-growing South Asian population.
The daughter of Indian immigrants and native of Jupiter, Florida, Dandiya has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities as a teacher, high school principal, White House Fellow, and technology leader, the Indian political advocacy group stated in a press release.
She founded and led one of New York’s top-performing high schools, ensuring every graduate earned admission to college despite overwhelming economic barriers. In Washington, she helped shape national education and economic policy as a White House Fellow, and also previously led public sector initiatives at Apple, working with state leaders across the country to modernize education, healthcare, and government services.
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“We are proud to endorse Pia Dandiya because she represents the best of what public service should be. As a lifelong educator who has helped thousands of students and families, Pia understands how essential strong schools and accessible healthcare are to our community’s future,” Chintan Patel, Executive Director of Indian American Impact Fund stated.
“She has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity — whether in the classroom, at the White House, or leading innovation in the business sector. And in this critical moment, Pia is also Democrats’ best chance to defeat Trump-ally Brian Mast and deliver real representation for Florida’s 21st District. Pia’s experience, values, and deep roots in this district make her the champion Floridians deserve in Congress.”
“I was born and raised in this district by parents who came to this country in pursuit of the American dream, and I’ve dedicated my career to making sure that dream is within reach for more families,” Dandiya stated.
“From the classroom to the White House to the work I’ve done helping states use technology to better serve their people, I’ve always believed in the power of institutions to help people lift people up, contribute productively to their community and ultimately, to experience the American Dream,” she wrote.
“I’m deeply grateful to Indian American Impact for their endorsement and for their leadership in ensuring immigrant communities like mine are represented. Together, we can build a future where every Floridian has a real chance not just to survive, but to thrive.”
Dandiya was also appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois P-20 Council, a state committee aiming to foster collaboration among state agencies, education institutions, local schools, and community groups, where she co-chaired the K-12 Computer Science working group.
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“In Congress, Dandiya will put the American people first. She is certain that elected leadership shouldn’t be about headlines or political fights – it should be about you,” according to her campaign site.
Dandiya, it said, “is determined to make our institutions vehicles for economic freedom and will shift our national paradigm from helping Americans merely survive to helping them to be self-sustaining and thrive. She will be a proud voice for policies that put all Americans on a path to prosperity, including preparing Americans for jobs in the 21st Century, advocating for universal pre-K, reinstating reproductive rights, fighting inflation and ensuring Americans’ hard earned dollars go further.”
Dandiya holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University and a Master’s in Education from Boston University in partnership with Teach For America. As an undergraduate, she spent her summers teaching English to slum children in New Delhi, working in Senator Bill Nelson’s Washington, D.C., office, and advocating for improved public education through the I Have A Dream Foundation in New York.
“These experiences, along with her time in the classroom, has taught Dandiya that in order to truly change outcomes, policymakers must work in partnership with the communities they serve,” her websites says.