Democrats to dump resources into new South Florida congressional district

Claire Heddles, Miami Herald on Jul 9, 2026

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MIAMI — The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding Florida’s newly drawn 22nd District to its list of target seats in its effort to win back control of the U.S. House in November.

The DCCC is directing extra resources into roughly 50 open or Republican-held districts nationwide that the party sees as flippable in their favor in November. The latest addition marks the second district in South Florida on the group’s target list, which also includes María Elvira Salazar. The DCCC targeted Salazar in the 2024 election cycle as well, but failed to oust her.

Florida’s 22nd District stretches from Davie north to Royal Palm Beach and across the state to Marco Island, after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature redrew Florida’s voting maps in a way that created four more Republican-leaning seats in the state — including this one. Previously, the 22nd District was a compact, solidly blue seat primarily in Palm Beach County.

“Republicans’ cynical attempt to subvert the will of Florida voters continues to backfire,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement. “Democrats are keeping South Florida blue.”

Donald Trump won the voters that comprise the newly drawn 22nd District by 10 points in 2024, but Democrat Joe Biden won those voters by three points in 2020, giving Democrats some hope the area could swing back in their direction this fall. The party has pointed to special election wins for Democrats, including in Miami, as evidence that there will be a swing left in November.

“Democrats’ consistent overperformance in election after election this cycle is further proof that we have a path to victory this cycle to win FL-22,” the DCCC wrote Thursday.

There’s also a wild-card factor to the race: There is no incumbent on either the Republican or Democratic side. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, who lives in the 22nd District, opted to run in one of Florida’s few remaining Democratic strongholds instead, the longtime Black-majority 20th District.

She faced heavy backlash for that decision, as Black political leaders and opposing candidates pressured her to run in the 22nd District instead and ensure it would be competitive for Democrats, thanks to her name recognition and $2.5 million war chest. But she stayed put in the 20th District.

Now, former teacher and school founder Pia Dandiya is leading the Democratic fundraising field for the 22nd District, with more than $1.5 million in her campaign accounts. The Republican field is crowded with wealthy business owners including Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser, franchising and real estate CEO Casey Askar, crypto investor Michael Carbonara and four other candidates.