October 10th, 2026 Len’s Political Note #846 Sweep Florida, Add Pia Dandiya Florida 22
2026 General Election
Republicans intended to create some chaos with the mid-decade redistricting in Florida and they succeeded. The new Florida 22 was designed to elect a Republican. Debbie Wasserman Schultz fled Florida 25 for the new Florida 20. Lois Frankel fled Florida 22 for Florida 23. Jared Moskowitz fled Florida 23 for Florida 25. Those three will all get reelected in their new district, though Jaren Moskowitz has to work really hard at winning his race.
A slew of Republican candidates showed up for the Florida 22 primary which was won by Businessman Casey Askar, the CEO and Chairman of the Askar Family Office, which specializes in franchising, commercial real estate, construction, and energy. Touting his success in employing 2,000 people in the district and nearby, he says he knows how to create jobs.
Before he gets a chance to demonstrate how Congress can create jobs, Casey Askar will have to defeat Pia Dandiya. From Jupiter, Palm Beach County, Pia Dandiya grew up in the neighborhood. Her parents had immigrated from India. Pia Dandiya went to Harvard. At Harvard, she was president of the South Asian Society. Out of Harvard, she joined Teach for America. After her two years, she was the founding math teacher at Boys Charter School. Next she spent a year heading Teacher Leadership Development for Teach for America and then founded a high school in Harlem where she stayed for five years as the school succeeded in sending every graduate to college. She spent a year in Joe Biden’s White House and three years In the private sector as the Manager of Strategic Initiatives, focusing on the southeast for Apple. At home in Florida, she saw opportunity in Florida 22
In her Florida 22 campaign, she says her first priority is reducing costs. In Florida, that means reducing the cost of property insurance, reducing the cost of childcare, end eliminating Trump’s illegal tariffs. Her second priority is to clean up Washington – prohibiting Members of Congress from trading stocks and ending Citizens United.
Pia Dandiya is amaking headway. On July 29, Casey Askar reported having $1.1 million cash on hand; Pia Dandiya had $1.3 million. She is doing alright in the polls as well. On August 20, Tavern Research reported the two candidates tied at 50-50. On September 9, Impact Research reported on a poll that had been funded by Democrats;:Pia Dandiya was leading 46-44.
Pia Dandiya can foil the redistricting. Help her win. DONATE to her campaign.
THE BIG RACE FOR THE US SENATE.
In the primary, out of necessity and personal preference, State Rep Angie Nixon relied on door-to-door campaigning, free publicity, and determination. She trounced Alexander Vindman in Florida’s primary 56-43.
Angie Nixon is continuing her grass roots campaign. Now she is running against the sitting, unelected Senator Ashley Moody, who has been described as a “generic” Republican. Moody is not “generic,” She is pretty far into the right wing of the Republican Party. Ashley Moody may think she can coast to victory.
Never in her life has Angie Nixon done anything in a way that would be described lackadaisical. Daughter of a single mother in Jacksonville who worked two jobs, graduate of a historically Black competitive public high school, Angie Nixon graduated from the University of Florida in 2007. By 2015, she had formed her own organization – The Moxie Group, which provided strategic planning.
As the Florida House was considering mid-decade further gerrymandering of the state legislature and after her microphone was cut off, Angie Nixon marched around the room with a hot pink colored bull horn that matched her hot pink pant suit. She was shouting through the bull horn that the gerrymandering was illegal and the leadership was destroying democracy in Florida.
The first poll after the primary was completed on September 9. Ashley Moody and Angie Nixon were tied at 47-47. A second poll, completed on September 10, had Moody leading 50-43. And a third poll, completed on September 17, had them tied, this time at 45-45.
Angie Nixon is making noise and getting noticed. She still does not have much money. She has figured out how to win without much money; but she can’t win without any money. DONATE. Help Angie Nixon pull off one more upset. See Len’s Political Note #841
THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA IS ALMOST AS BIG
In 2016, then a Republican, David Jolly lost a race for reelection to Congress to former Republican Charlie Crist. David Jolly then spent time as a political pundit and critic of the new President, Donald Trump. His personal life had changed as had his political life. In 2014 he and his wife had divorced. In 2015, he married Laura Donahoe, with whom he had worked when they were both at a DC-based lobbying firm. In 2018, he dropped his membership in the Republican Party while working for the Tampa based Shumaker Advisors not exactly as a lobbyist, but supporting such initiatives as a new baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. He settled in and was raising a family.
In 2025, David Jolly registered as a Democrat. Two months later, he announced he was running for Governor as a Democrat. He did not claim the Republican Party had left him. David Jolly said he had changed his views. These changed views were not a simple matter for the son of a Southern Baptist Preacher. Formerly, he thought that opposition to abortion was central to being Christian. No longer. He supported reproductive freedom and remained a Christian. As a moderate Republican, he had already supported same sex marriage, had been considering ways to ease the impact of money on campaigns, and opposed offshore drilling.
Though he has a BA from Emory and a JD from George Mason, David Jolly’s most thorough education was through his work in Congress. From his time as an aide tor Florida Congressman and long-time Appropriations Committee Chair Bill Young. David Jolly learned to be a tight-fisted moderate.
David Jolly might say fiscal sanity runs through his campaign with:
Proposals to solve Florida’s most serious affordability crisis – property insurance — through a state catastrophe fund.
Proposals to increase investment in public schools and to fix the voucher program’s finances which are on the verge of collapse.
Proposals for campaign finance and ethics reform and the creation of a technology sector to supplement Florida’s tourism.
David Jolly is a professional. He knows how to persuade. He knows how to achieve compromises. And he knows how to defeat Republican Congressman Byron Donalds who begins his website with “Enact the Trump Agenda.” The September polls are puzzling. They include a Byron Donalds 51-39 lead, a Byron Donalds 44-43 lead, a David Jolly 47-44 lead, and a David Jolly 48-46 lead. Perhaps we shoud throw out the 12 point Donalds lead poll as an outlier.
DONATE to David Jolly’s campaign. If he raises money, David Jolly could win this. It is time for Florida to flip back. See Len’s Political Note #820
CONGRESSIONAL RACES – THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM
Florida 07 Bale Dalton, the former NASA Chief of Staff is attempting to flip a Republican seat defended by former Fox TV anchor Ryan Elijah. There are no recent polls to report. Based on FEC reports, on July 29 Bale Dalton led Ryan Elijah in cash on hand $500,000 to $200,000. Donations can make a difference. DONATE to Bale Dalton’s campaign. You can make a difference. See Len’s Political Note #837
Florida 09. Incumbent Democrat Darren Soto has been gerrymandered into a Republican district that no longer has the Puerto Rican population the district previously had. In the financial race, on July 29 Darren Soto led former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Dan Green in cash on hand $1.2 million to $400,000. See Len’s Political Note #809
Florida 13 Retired Army Brigadier General Leela Gray brings experience at the highest level of the military and experience working with politicians to her effort to oust Republican Incumbent Anna Paulina Luna whose stories about herself rival George Santos’ stories. Anna Paulina Luna tells us her father was drafted into Hitler’s Wehrmacht and, after immigrating to Canada and marrying Luna’s mom, raised her as a Messianic Jew. Leela Gray was Deputy Commanding General of the Army Central Command. On July 29, Leela Gray had $700,000 cash in hand, less than Anna Paulina Luna’s $1.5 million. At the beginning of August, according to a Democratic funded poll, Leela Gray trailed Luna 44-47. At the end of August, according to a Democratic poll Leela Gray led Anna Paulina Luna 49-44. This is a chance to flip a Republican seat. DONATE to Leena Gray’s campaign. See Len’s Political Note #805
Florida 14 Incumbent Kathy Castor has been in Congress representing the Tampa area since 2006. Her father had been a County Judge; her mom the state Commissioner of Education and then President of the University of South Florida. Her opponent for this now skewed Republican district is former state rep and attorney Mike Beltran. On July 29, Kathy Castor reported having $1.7 million cash on hand; Mike Beltran had $1.9 million. There have been no polls since July when Kathy Castor had a comfortable lead. DONATE to Kathy Castor’s campaign. Make certain she takes her lead straight through November. See Len’s Political Note #826
Florida 25. Do not let the mid-decade gerrymander oust Jared Moskowitz from Congress. A strong supporter of Israel, a moderate competent enough to have been appointed as Ron DeSantis’s FEMA equivalent and praised by all sides for his work. He was ethical enough to resign from the FEMA-like position when DeSantis made public safety political, The race is seen as a toss-up by most analysts, though here have been no polls since May. Based on July 29 reports, Jared Markowitz led the Republican mayor of Boca Raton Scott Singer in cash on hand: $1.9 million to $500,000. DONATE to Jared Moskowitz’ campaign. Win this toss up race and protect the Democrats chance to gain a majority in Congress.
Florida 26. Nicole Locklin has an uphill climb to oust incumbent Republican Mario Diaz-Balart. He has been the spokesperson for Cuban Americans in their permanent quarrel with the Castros’ revolution. Redistricting made Florida 26 twenty-one points less Republican. What’s more, Nicole Lockoin is a remarkable candidate. Her comments on the issues resonate. She would work to stop corruption in Washington and the War in Iran. There are no polls. Consider her candidacy. DONATE to Nicole Locklin’s campaign. With some resources, she can make a race of this and could even win.
Florida 27. Elliot Rodriguez is familiar to the people of the district as a former television news anchor. He is running against incumbent Marie Salazar who parlayed her experience as a television news anchor into her election as a television news anchor. Redistricting has made Florida 27 a +1 Democratic district. If Maria Salazar has any noticeable vulnerabilities, she could lose her seat. She saw Trump’s deportation of Hispanic immigrants counts as a vulnerability and she attacked Trump for that. In return, conservative Trumpers attacked her. Can Elliot Rodriguez benefit from this division among Republicans? She has the resources she needs to protect herself and is well ahead in the financial race. Her cash on hand on July 29 was $2.3 million to Elliot Rodriguez’ $300,000. Democrats have sponsored polls to see how Elliot Rodriguez is doing. At the end of August, according to Democratic-funded polls, they were tied – 45-45. In the middle of September Elliot Rodriguez trailed 47-46. DONATE to Elliot Rodriguez’ campaign.
OTHER STATE WIDE RACES
Attorney General. Jose Javier Rodriguez’ father fled Cuba with the support of the Eisenhower administration that removed unaccompanied minors who feared what turned out to be non-existent indoctrination camps. In Florida, he met JJR’s midwestern mom. JJR was an American success. He went to Brown and Harvard Law School. Back in Florida, he worked for legal services. Because the existing law hampered legal services’ capacity to help its clients, JJR considered politics as a remedy. Having moved to private practice, in 2012, he ran for and was elected to the Florida House. In 2016, he ran for and was elected to the State Senate. In 2020, he lost his reelection bid, but, perhaps because of his union ties, he was appointed Assistant Labor Secretary despite opposition from Senators Menendez and Fetterman. Back in Florida after Trump’s election in 2024, JJR was a logical candidate to run for state Attorney General. He is opposing Ron DeSantis’s current Attorney General James Uthmeier, the man who can be held responsible for Alligator Alcatraz and who had a role in the illegal transfer of funds to Ron DeSantis’ wife’s Hope Florida Foundation. James Javier Rodriguez can win the Florida Attorney General race. A mid-September poll had him trailing Uthmeier 42-43. DONATE to help seat a Democrat who is opposed to corruption. See Len’s Political Note #736
Chief Financial Officer. Annette Taddeo may be more successful as a back of the room politician than as a candidate. Though she had two successful terms as the first Democratic Latina state senator, her campaigns for statewide office and other higher office have been unsuccessful. As chair of the Democratic State Committee, she very nearly achieved her goal of having a Democratic candidate for every state rep slot. As a businesswoman, she created a translation service shortly after she graduated from college, a business thrives to this day. And she has a story to tell. The daughter of a Colombian mom and an Italian-American former fighter pilot dad, she and her mother escaped from their country when Annette’s father was kidnapped by FARC. She argues that, as a politician and a businesswoman, she is well qualified for the CFO position. And she says she is needed. Virtually the whole of Tallahassee is in the pockets of the insurance companies. Help her defeat the incumbent Blaise Ingoglia – an ally of Ron DeSantis, a man from Queens who could not complete either Queens or Brooklyn College, but could create America One Mortgage and Hartland Homes, making a fortune out of Florida’s growth. DONATE to Annette Taddeo’s campaign.
Agriculture Commissioner. Joey Mendoza Atkins. Is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and the University of Toledo Law School (That’s Toledo, Ohio). His practice in Florida has largely been in support of migrant farm workers. That is the opposite of the one term Republican incumbent. Wilton Simpson’s family farm is a large-scale egg laying factory. He and his wife are advocates for the PACE Centers for Girls. – alternative schools and outreach programs. DONATE to Joey Mendoza Atkins campaign.
STATE LEGISLATURE RACES
The Florida House has 120 seats: 82 Republicans, 34 Democrats, 4 vacancies. If Democrats elect a governor and want to prevent veto overrides, they will need to have 41 seats – 7 more than they have now. The following eight seats are either toss ups or lead Ds. If they were all flipped to Democrat. Donate via OATH or through DONATE buttons below.
FLHD 36; Darryl Block to flip this seat. He is an attorney, social worker, and mediator whose first priority is to listen to his constituents. DONATE.
FLHD 37: Jane Aman to flip this seat. She is an educator and community organizer whose first priority is reduce costs by holding the insurance companies accountable. DONATE.
FLHD 39: Jarod Fox to flip this seat. He is a deeply religious medical doctor who grew up poor and whose first priority is to expand Medicaid. DONATE
FLHD 73 Lisa Klein to flip this seat. She owns her own practice as a mental health counselor. Her first priority is support for and the rights of those with disabilities.
FLHD 93. August Mangeney to flip this seat. He is an auto insurance attorney and his first priority is to make sure that people are treated fairly – in schools, at home, at work, and when they vote. DONATE
FLHD 94 Elizabeth Holmes to flip this seat. She is a Florida teacher. Her first priority is to lower property insurance costs. DONATE
FLHD 101: Todd Delmay to flip this seat. He has an MBA, has a small business, and would be the first gay parent to be elected to the Florida legislature. His first priority is to lower costs by reducing property insurance. DONATE.
FLHD 113: Gloria Romero Roses to flip this seat. She is a realtor and owner of an assisted living facility. Her first priority is to accelerate construction of affordable housing. DONATE
The Florida State Senate has 40 seats: 23 Republicans and 17 Democrats. Flipping 4 seats would give Democrats a majority.
FLSD 10. John Lowndes is the Mayor of the City of Maitland. An attorney, when not working as a prosecutor, he has worked on Native American issues and environmental issues. He is running against the President ProTem of the Florida Senate. DONATE
FLSD 18. Karla Kemp is a former firefighter and paramedic with experience in health care and insurance. Her first priority is expanding health care access. DONATE.
FLSD 36 George Lavin is the son of two anti-communist exiles from Communist Cuba. He is a legal consultant who has worked with prosecutors and large corporations and is married to a man. His first priority is to make certain that Floridians can have insurance that works for the policy holders. DONATE
FLSD 38 Richard Lamondin is the cofounder and CEO of ecofi – an environmental services company that helps clients reduce water use, carbon emissions, and utility bills. He identifies four freedoms Floridians need: to be healthy, to raise a family, to afford a home, and to be free from corruption. DONATE
