Who’s Running for Congressional District 22 in the August Primaries

Who is running for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District in August 2026?

Florida’s 22nd Congressional District was substantially redrawn under the state’s new congressional map, signed into law in May 2026, and this cycle’s race has no incumbent. Seven Republicans and two Democrats qualified for the Aug. 18, 2026, primary ballot. Both parties will hold closed partisan primaries, meaning they are open only to registered voters of the respective party. The Republican and Democratic nominees, along with two additional candidates who qualified outside the party primaries, will face off in the November general election.

• Republican Candidates
• Democratic Candidates

Research and campaign finance data for this post were compiled with assistance from Claude (Anthropic AI), drawing on the Florida Division of Elections, candidate websites, and Florida news sources. All information was reviewed and verified by the author.

Republican Candidates

Casey Askar

Bio

Casey Askar, whose legal name is Kousay Askar, was born in Iraq and came to the United States at age 7 with his family after they fled religious persecution as Christians. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992. After his military service, he built a business career beginning in the fitness industry before expanding into food franchising and commercial real estate. He is Chairman and CEO of Askar Family Office, a family-owned investment company with interests in franchising, commercial real estate, energy, and construction. He completed Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program, a three-year executive education program for established business owners. Askar is married and has seven children. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2020 Republican primary for Florida’s 19th Congressional District. (Casey Askar campaign biography; Ballotpedia)

Platform

Askar’s campaign website states, “Prosperity starts with leadership.” Its dedicated Issues page lists seven platform priorities:

Endorsements

An Endorsements page lists the following:

• Kevin Rambosk, Collier County Sheriff
• Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Representative
• Kathleen Passidomo, former President of the Florida Senate
• Darrin Palumbo, Marco Island City Council Chairman

Further Research

1. Campaign website: caseyaskar.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube
3. Sparker’s Soapbox, 7/25/20

In the News

• Businessman, Veteran Casey Askar Announces Run for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. (The Floridian, 5/19/26)
• Casey Askar Scores Congressional Endorsement From Rep. Gus Bilirakis. (The Floridian, 6/1/26)
• Kevin Rambosk endorses Casey Askar for Congress in CD 22. (Florida Politics, 6/10/26)
• Shadow Group Has Attacked Trump Ally Casey Askar in Support of Belinda Keiser. (The Floridian, 6/15/26)
• Casey Askar wants to rename portion of I-75 “President Donald J. Trump Interstate.” (Florida Politics, 6/18/26)
• Kathleen Passidomo gives Casey Askar a hometown boost in CD 22. (Florida Politics, 6/29/26)
• Republican Casey Askar Touts Business Experience in CD 22 Pitch. (The Floridian, 6/29/26)
• Casey Askar “Is Stepping Up To Fight” Against Democratic Socialists. (The Floridian, 7/1/26)
• Marco Island Council Chair endorses Casey Askar in GOP Primary for CD 22. (Florida Politics, 7/6/26)
• Top Conservative Group CPAC Endorses ‘Proven Conservative’ Casey Askar for Congress. (The Floridian, 7/9/26)

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David Burck

Bio

David Burck was born in Tampa and raised in South Florida. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps Military Police in 2008 and served for five years before becoming a police officer with the West Palm Beach Police Department. He now works as a real estate professional and small business owner. Burck entered the CD 22 race in January 2026. After Florida’s May 2026 redistricting placed his residence in the neighboring 23rd Congressional District, he said he would remain in the race because the U.S. Constitution requires members of the U.S. House to reside in the state they represent, but not in the congressional district itself.

Platform

Burck’s campaign website describes him as “Marine Corps Veteran for Congress.” It does not have a dedicated issues page but lists four platform categories without further elaboration: “Supporting President Trump’s Agenda,” “Affordability in Mind,” “A Local Focus,” and “A Working Congress.” In his campaign launch video, he said, “Florida values are American values, and we’re proof that you don’t need bigger government to get better results… President Trump is getting our country back on track, but to keep that momentum and hold the majority in Congress, we need Republicans who know how to fight.” In a Jun. 2026 interview, he said he trusts President Trump’s judgment on Iran, and on the U.S.-Israel relationship said, “I feel like Israel and the United States are just kind of like the two last vestiges of the best of the West” (davidburck.com; Florida Politics; The Jerusalem Post).

Responding to redistricting, he said his mission remains to “fight to restore the American Dream for the next generation of Floridians, rewarding hard work, not people who game the system,” with a platform Florida Politics described as prioritizing affordability, local needs, and a more functional Congress.

Endorsements

The campaign website lists endorsements from Willington Village Councilor Johnny Meier, Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, and Royal Palm Beach Village Councilor Selena Samios.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: davidburck.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube

In the News

• Redistricting shuffle: David Burck says he’ll continue running in CD 22, even after map change. (Florida Politics, 4/30/26)
• Republican Congressional Candidates in Florida’s 22 District Finally Share the Stage. (The Floridian, 6/21/26)
• Israel is America’s ‘only true Western ally,’ Florida’s GOP House hopeful David Burck tells ‘Post.’ (The Jerusalem Post, 6/26/26)
• Majority of Trump Republicans Running for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District Supported Democrats. (The Floridian, 7/1/26)

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Michael Carbonara

Bio

Michael Carbonara was born on Long Island, New York, and raised by a single mother. He earned an associate degree in business administration from Ulster County Community College and began his entrepreneurial career in 2011, founding companies in financial technology, cryptocurrency, data centers, and biotechnology. He moved to Florida in 2012, where he met his wife, Sonia, whose family emigrated from Cuba. They have two children and live in Southwest Ranches. Before entering the congressional race, Carbonara served as CEO of the Miami-based financial technology company Ibanera.

Carbonara initially filed to run in Florida’s 25th Congressional District before moving his campaign to the newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District in May 2026 following legislative redistricting. (michaelcarbonara.com; Florida Politics; WLRN; Local10).

Platform

Carbonara’s website slogan is “Restoring America’s Freedom and Prosperity.” Its platform lists six issues:

• American Prosperity
• Strength & Security
• Educational Freedom
• Affordable Healthcare
• Stronger Borders
• Constitutional Rights

Endorsements

• HUCKPAC for America (the Huckabee family’s national political operation) (Florida Politics)
• Veterans for America First (Florida Politics)

Further Research

1. Campaign website: michaelcarbonara.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn

In the News

• Redistricting shuffle: Michael Carbonara shifts candidacy to CD 22. (Florida Politics, 5/1/26)
• HUCKPAC for America Endorses Michael Carbonara for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. (GlobeNewswire, 5/11/26)
• Michael Carbonara commits $3M to TV campaign across CD 22. (Florida Politics, 5/21/26)
• Veterans for America First Endorses Michael Carbonara for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. (GlobeNewswire, 5/26/26)

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Richard L. Evans

Bio

Richard Evans is an accountant and risk manager living in Ave Maria, in southern Collier County, with over 25 years of professional experience. He does not have a live campaign website as of Jul. 12, 2026. He previously ran for the U.S. House in Florida’s 26th Congressional District in the 2024 Republican primary, which he did not win, and has been an active public commenter at Collier County commission meetings on Ave Maria growth and infrastructure issues (Ballotpedia; Instagram; WINK News).

Platform

With no campaign website, there is little to report about Evans’s platform positions. In a June 2026 candidate forum, he said he favored protecting the aquifer over oil production, saying, “Save the Water. Save the aquifer.” (The Floridian) Addressing a proposed Ave Maria housing expansion before the Collier County Commission, he said, “We need infrastructure before the development, that would be the preferred way to do things” (WINK News).

Endorsements

No campaign website exists to list endorsements, and none were found for Evans in public sources as of Jul. 9, 2026.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: none found as of Jul. 9, 2026.
2. Active social media: Facebook, Instagram

In the News

• Ave Maria approved for 6,738 more homes despite concerns over timing. (WINK News, 6/9/26)
• Republican Congressional Candidates in Florida’s 22 District Finally Share the Stage. (The Floridian, 6/21/26)

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Terri Hasdorff

Bio

Terri Hasdorff was raised in Montgomery, AL, and describes herself as a Christian conservative. She spent the 1990s and early 2000s working in and around Washington, D.C., including as Deputy Director of the House Republican Conference and, during President George W. Bush’s administration, as director of the White House Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives. She holds an Executive MBA from Oxford University and has served for years as president of Wellington-based Capitol Solutions Consulting, a government relations firm; her campaign lists her as Chair of the Republican Federal Women’s Forum.

She has written a book, Running Into the Fire, arguing that Christians and people of faith must engage with courage to preserve freedoms and values. She previously ran for the U.S. House in Alabama in 2020, where she lost in the Republican primary, and now resides in Loxahatchee, Palm Beach County (terriforcongress.com; Florida Politics).

Platform

Hasdorff’s campaign website describes her as a “fearless conservative” who is “proudly Pro-Life, America First, and a steadfast defender of our Second Amendment rights.” Its Issues page lists six priorities:

• Secure Borders & Safe Communities
• American Prosperity & Economic Relief
• American Energy Dominance
• Government Accountability & Draining the Swamp
• Property Insurance Crisis & Hurricane Preparedness
• Protecting American Values & Parental Rights

Endorsements

• Moms for America Action (terriforcongress.com)

Further Research

1. Campaign website: terriforcongress.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X

In the News

• Terri Hasdorff launches campaign for open CD 22 seat. (Florida Politics, 6/5/26)
• Moms for America Action Endorses Terri Hasdorff for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District. (Terri Hasdorff for Congress, 6/24/26)

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Belinda Keiser

Bio

Belinda Keiser was born in the Philippines to an American father, making her a U.S. citizen at birth. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida State University and an MBA from Nova University. She joined Keiser University in 1978 and now serves as its Vice Chancellor of Community Relations and Student Advancement. Keiser University, founded by her husband’s family, has more than 20,000 students at campuses throughout Florida. She has lived within the current boundaries of Congressional District 22 for more than three decades.

Keiser has served in numerous appointed state positions, including as a member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (2017–18), the Board of Directors of Space Florida, the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, and the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. She also served as a Florida presidential elector for Donald Trump and as an at-large delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Keiser was registered as a Democrat until 2007 and ran unsuccessfully for office as a Democrat in 2000 before changing her party registration to Republican. She later lost a 2018 special election for Florida Senate District 25 as a Republican. During the 2026 campaign, she said she has “always been a conservative” and described herself as a former “Blue Dog Democrat,” explaining that the party has changed significantly since she was a registered Democrat.(votekeiser.com; Ballotpedia; Florida Politics; The Floridian).

Platform

Keiser’s campaign website is a single-page site with no dedicated Issues page. It describes her as “a Trump Conservative. Florida Values” and “Not a Politician. A Builder.” At her campaign launch, she said, “I believe the people of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District deserve a conservative fighter who will stand up for American values and put America first.” “I have spent four decades helping create opportunities, strengthen our economy, and prepare thousands of Floridians for successful careers. I know what it takes to grow jobs, support the business community, and help working families thrive.” (votekeiser.com; Florida Politics).

Endorsements

Her campaign website lists endorsements from several “trusted conservatives”:

• National leaders: U.S. Representatives Jimmy Patronis, Neal Dunn, Aaron Bean, Randy Fine, and Vern Buchanan.
• Organizations: Palm Beach Police Benevolent Association.
• Local leaders: Rene Champagne, Marco Island City Council Vice Chair.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: votekeiser.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X

In the News

• Belinda Keiser brings South Florida trailblazer star power to CD 22 race. (Florida Politics, 6/4/26)
• Belinda Keiser rolls out four congressional endorsements in CD 22 as qualifying week begins. (Florida Politics, 6/8/26)
• Vern Buchanan endorses ‘proven conservative’ Belinda Keiser for CD 22. (Florida Politics, 6/10/26)
• Palm Beach Police Benevolent Association Endorses Belinda Keiser in CD 22. (The Floridian, 7/3/26)
• Belinda Keiser lands Marco Island-based nod from Rene Champagne. (Florida Politics, 7/6/26)

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Michael Thompson

Bio

Michael Thompson was born in Palm Beach Gardens and raised in Belle Glade on the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee. He studied business administration at a two-year college before moving to Fort Myers in 2001, where he began a career in real estate. In 2013, he founded his own real estate brokerage, which he sold in 2024 while remaining its Broker of Record. He also founded the SW Florida Heroes Foundation, a nonprofit that supports veterans in Collier, Hendry, and Lee counties, and previously served as a fire commissioner in Alva. He has said he returned to Belle Glade to run for Congress in District 22.

Thompson has held several leadership roles within Republican organizations, including chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee, founder of the East Lee County Republican Club, and founder of the Lee County chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus. As Lee REC chairman, he helped bring President Donald Trump to the county party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in 2022.

Thompson has worked with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on initiatives associated with The America Project, an organization that has promoted election-integrity efforts and scrutinized the work of Florida elections officials. He briefly sought the Republican nomination for Florida House District 77 in 2025 before withdrawing from that race in January 2026 to pursue his congressional campaign. (votemichaelthompson.com; Florida Politics).

Platform

As of July 12, 2026, Thompson’s campaign website consists of a single “Under Construction” page and does not include a dedicated Issues or Platform section. Instead, the site’s homepage frames his campaign around support for President Donald Trump and opposition to the Biden administration, stating: “My site is currently under contruction the same way that our country is currently under contruction after enduring an all out assault by the Biden administration” (typos in original). Announcing his campaign, Thompson said, “President Trump gave this country a roadmap back to greatness. I am running to make sure that roadmap is built right here in Florida’s 22nd District., for the farmers, the veterans, the families, the small business owners, and the hard-working blue-collar patriots who have been left behind for too long by democrat leaders.” Thompson has also signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge, committing to cosponsor and vote for a constitutional amendment limiting members of the U.S. House to three terms and U.S. senators to two terms. (votemichaelthompson.com; Florida Politics; U.S. Term Limits; The Floridian).

Endorsements

No endorsements were listed on Thompson’s campaign website or in public sources as of Jul. 10, 2026.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: votemichaelthompson.com
2. Active social media: X

In the News

• Michael Thompson becomes latest GOP candidate in CD 22. (Florida Politics, 5/20/26)
• Republican Congressional Candidates in Florida’s 22 District Finally Share the Stage. (The Floridian, 6/21/26)
• Majority of Trump Republicans Running for Congress in Florida’s 22nd District Supported Democrats. (The Floridian, 7/1/26)

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Republican Campaign Finances

Campaign finance information will be added here after the 2Q26 Finance Reports, due 7/15/26, become available.

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Democratic Candidates

Pia Dandiya

Bio

Pia Dandiya is a first-generation American, born and raised in Palm Beach County to parents originally from India. She began her career as a teacher, then became a high school principal in Harlem at age 28, one of the youngest in the country; every graduate of the charter school she founded there earned college admission despite 86% of students living below the poverty line. She was later selected as a White House Fellow, serving at the White House Domestic Policy Council and the U.S. Department of Education, then led public sector initiatives at Apple and was appointed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois P-20 Council, where she co-chaired its K-12 Computer Science working group. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University and a master’s degree in education from Boston University.

Dandiya originally entered the 2026 cycle as a Democratic primary candidate in Florida’s 21st Congressional District, challenging U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, and shifted her campaign to the newly drawn, open CD 22 seat in May 2026 after redistricting; if elected, she would become the first South Asian American to represent Florida in Congress. She lives in Palm Beach County with her husband and son (piaforcongress.com; Florida Politics; American Bazaar).

Platform

Dandiya’s campaign website describes her as a first-generation American who has dedicated her career to strengthening communities as a high school principal, policy leader, and technology innovator. She says she is a Democrat who wants to write a new future, determined to make the American dream more accessible to her fellow Floridians. The website lists six platform priorities:

• Cost of Living & Middle-Class Stability
• Economic Opportunity
• Education & Workforce
• Protecting Core Programs & Democracy
• Personal Freedom & Rights
• Clean Water & Environment

Endorsements

The campaign website lists the following endorsements:

• National leaders: U.S. Representatives Lois Frankel, Pat Ryan, Jill Tokuda; former Reps Cheri Bustos, Patrick Murphy, and Annie Kuster; and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
• State leaders: State Senators Lori Berman (Minority Leader), Tina Polsky; Jeremy Ring (former). State Representatives Robin Bartleman, Emily Gregory, Mitch Rosenwald, Kelly Skidmore, Debra Tendrich.
• Local leaders: Broward County Mayor Mark Bogan; Broward County Commissioners Steve Geller, Nan Rich, Beam Furr (former); Broward County School Board Chair Sara Leonardi; Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg (former); and more (none in Collier County).
• National organizations: Committee to Protect Health Care, EMILYs List, ASPIRE PAC, AAPI Victory Fund, Indian American IMPACT, Democrats for Education Reform, Elect Democratic Women, Moms Demand Action Candidate Distinction, Vote Mama PAC, New Democracy, Serve America PAC, and Square One.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: piaforcongress.com
2. Active social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn

In the News

• Redistricting shuffle: Pia Dandiya shifts candidacy to open CD 22, leaving Brian Mast challenge behind. (Florida Politics, 5/22/26)
• Pia Dandiya shifts Congressional run from Florida to 22nd District. (American Bazaar, 5/25/26)
• Pia Dandiya announces wave of endorsements in first week campaigning in new CD 22. (Florida Politics, 5/28/26)
• 8 more Broward leaders endorse ‘strong advocate’ Pia Dandiya in CD 22 race. (Florida Politics, 6/25/26)
• Florida AFL-CIO endorses Pia Dandiya for CD 22. (Florida Politics, 7/2/26)

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Kaysia Earley

Bio

Kaysia Earley is a trial attorney in Plantation, FL, and founder of Earley Law Firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University and a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law. She began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit before founding Earley Law Firm in 2016, where she has tried more than 100 jury and non-jury trials to verdict and has appeared as a legal analyst on Court TV, CBS, NewsNation, and Law & Crime, among other national outlets.

Earley was a candidate for Broward County judge in 2024 but was not elected. She founded Seeds of Manna, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides disaster relief, mentoring, food distribution, and educational programs in South Florida and Jamaica. In 2022, she was named Broward County Mentor of the Year by Women of Tomorrow.

She and her husband, David, have been married more than 22 years and have four children. (kaysiaearleyforcongress.com; Times Caribbean Online).

Platform

Earley’s campaign website slogan is “A life of faith, service, and justice.” Its platform lists twelve issues:

Endorsements

No endorsements were listed on Earley’s campaign website as of Jul. 10, 2026.

Further Research

1. Campaign website: kaysiaearleyforcongress.com
2. Active social media: Instagram

In the News

• Jamaican-American Attorney Kaysia Earley, Esq. Announces Candidacy for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. (Times Caribbean Online, 6/2/26)
• Florida’s 22nd Congressional District: Kaysia Earley’s Vision. (South Florida Caribbean News, 6/4/26)

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Democratic Campaign Finances

Campaign finance information will be added here after the 2Q26 Finance Reports, due 7/15/26, become available.

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Summary

Florida’s 22nd Congressional District is a newly redrawn, open seat this year, with seven Republicans and two Democrats on the Aug. 18, 2026 primary ballot. The Republican and Democratic nominees, along with two additional candidates who qualified outside the party primaries, will face off in the November general election.