Who is Pia Dendia? Indian-American educator who taught in Delhi slums now runs for Florida Congress

Indian-American educator and policy professional Pia Dandiya has moved her U.S. congressional campaign to Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd District, shifting from her previous run in the 21st District into a high-profile, open race in the state, American Market reports.Dandiya is a former high school principal and technology manager. She runs a platform focused on lowering the cost of living, strengthening public education and supporting middle-class families. Her campaign comes on the heels of a mid-decade redistricting plan approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis that realigned several congressional boundaries and turned the 22nd District into a competitive swing seat in South Florida.If elected, she would be the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress, reflecting the state’s growing Indian American population.Dendia was born and raised in Palm Beach County. She is a first-generation Indian-American whose parents immigrated from India in search of better opportunities. Her early exposure to education included volunteering as an undergraduate, teaching English to children in the slums of New Delhi, an experience she says shaped her focus on educational equity. She currently lives in Palm Beach County with her husband and son.She began her career in education as a teacher in low-income schools where her students excelled, with over 90% achieving state proficiency. At the age of 28, she founded a charter high school in Harlem, New York, and became one of the youngest principals in the United States. The school continues to achieve excellent academic results, with all graduates gaining admission to university, despite the majority of students coming from low-income families.She later served as a White House fellow, worked on the Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education before entering the private sector. During this time, she led public sector initiatives at Apple involving education, healthcare, and government systems.Her campaign has focused on lowering everyday costs, including fuel, groceries and health care, through measures such as negotiating prescription drug prices. She also supports universal pre-K, increased investment in public schools, expanded job training and guaranteed Social Security and Medicare.Dendia has also been endorsed by Florida Democratic Party Chairman Nikki Fried and reported having $1.17 million in campaign funds on hand. This makes her a strong contender in the Democratic primary in the newly contested district.