Who's running in Florida's 22nd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Nothing documented in the sources reviewed.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary for the open seat.
Arguments in favor
She has run schools and worked inside the federal government on education: a teacher and principal in Harlem, then a White House Fellow at the Department of Education, then leading public-sector work at Apple. Her platform is "lower costs, great schools, and a government that works for the people — not the powerful", with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid protected.
— Pia Dandiya's campaign
The institutions that assess candidates for a living picked her: the DCCC put her on its Red to Blue list, the Florida AFL-CIO endorsed her on workers' rights and wages, and the Sun Sentinel endorsed her, saying her "experience better positions her for national issues." She won the primary with 68.6%.
— Endorsements listed by Pia Dandiya's campaign
Arguments against
Voters will "resoundingly reject radical Democrat Pia Dandiya, who would be nothing more than a hyper-partisan radical fighting to hike taxes and push woke policies."
— Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee
What we couldn’t verify
She has held no elected office, so there is no voting record to set against her campaign's positions.
She launched her campaign in the 21st District against Brian Mast and switched here after the new map was adopted; no published criticism of that switch by name was found.
Beyond the NRCC chair's statement, no criticism of her by name was found from Casey Askar's campaign, from her Democratic primary opponent, or from South Florida news coverage.
Reducing taxes and regulation to bring down grocery and fuel prices.
Election measures including Real ID requirements and citizenship verification for voting.
Banning congressional stock trading and increasing federal transparency.
Deporting criminal offenders in the country illegally, securing the border, and merit-based legal immigration.
Parental rights in education and opposition to what he calls un-American curricula.
Expanding domestic oil, natural gas, nuclear and coal production.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Founder of the Askar Family Office, operating franchise, real estate, energy and construction businesses across several states.
Immigrated legally to the United States as a child, fleeing religious persecution.
Won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary for the open seat.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
"It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Casey Askar, who is running to represent the tremendous people of Florida's 22nd Congressional District!"
— Donald Trump, reported by WLRN
He came to the United States from Iraq at seven, after his family fled religious persecution as Christians, served in the Marine Corps and built a food-service business — "a married father of seven children, who practices his Judeo-Christian values with his family and in his work."
— Casey Askar's campaign, reported by Coral Springs News
Arguments against
He has overstated his education: a 2020 complaint filed under Florida statute 817.566 alleged that his campaign claimed he graduated from Harvard Business School when what he completed was the school's twelve-week Owner/President Management executive programme, not a degree.
— A 2020 complaint under Florida statute 817.566, compiled with his other 2020 campaign records in the opposition file "Casey Askar: The Full Record", published during the 2026 Republican primary
He campaigns dishonestly against fellow Republicans: in the 2020 primary for the 19th District he ran a television advertisement saying Byron Donalds "lied" about not being a felon, over a theft case that had been sealed and expunged and that Donalds was not legally required to disclose.
— The same 2026 opposition file, documenting the 2020 advertisement
What we couldn’t verify
The 2020 education complaint was never adjudicated, and Askar's response to it was not established from the sources found.
The opposition file compiling these claims does not disclose who paid for it; it appeared during the 2026 Republican primary, which Askar won.
He has held no elected office, so there is no voting record to set against his campaign's positions. He spent $3.66 million on his unsuccessful 2020 run in the 19th District.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
No incumbent is running here. Florida's May 2026 redistricting set off a chain of moves in South Florida: Lois Frankel, who represented the 22nd, is running in the 23rd; Jared Moskowitz, who represented the 23rd, is running in the 25th; and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represented the 25th, is running in the 20th. Democrat Pia Dandiya and Republican Casey Askar won the August 18, 2026 primaries for this seat, which the Cook Political Report now rates lean Republican. Roster from the Florida qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Arguments are shown for both candidates. The case against Askar rests largely on documents from his 2020 campaign in a different district, which is stated plainly below and in his unknowns.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Florida ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Florida Division of Elections.