Cook Political Report Moves Florida's 22nd Congressional District Race to Toss Up
The Cook Political Report has moved the race for Florida's 22nd congressional district to a toss up. The newly drawn South Florida district is now one of the most competitive House contests in the country.
Republican Casey Askar and Democrat Pia Dandiya are competing for the open district, which covers parts of Palm Beach, Broward, Hendry and Collier counties. The district includes Wellington, Parkland and Marco Island and stretches west into rural Hendry County.
The Cook Political Report previously rated the race leans Republican. In its updated assessment, the nonpartisan handicapper noted Askar's background as a Marine veteran and said the district voted for Donald Trump by 11 points.
"Marine veteran Casey Askar won the GOP primary for this redrawn open seat, which stretches from Palm Beach County to the Gulf Coast and voted for Trump by 11 points," Cook Political Report analysts wrote. "He should have the edge against Democrats' nominee, education policy expert Pia Dandiya, but this will be a highly competitive race."
The new district's presidential voting history shows a sharp shift. It went 55-44% for Trump in 2024, but tilted 51-48% for Joe Biden in 2020.
Dandiya and Askar are running to fill a seat that was redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The district's four-county footprint spans suburban South Florida communities and rural areas farther west.
The Cook Political Report's move to toss up means it views the race as close. The rating does not predict a winner.
The election will decide who represents the redrawn district in Congress. Voters will choose between Askar and Dandiya in a district that backed Trump in 2024 after backing Biden in 2020.
