The Palm Beach Post sent questionnaires to candidates in the U.S. House race in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, a newly drawn inland district covering Wellington and western stretches of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, then running south into Broward County and west toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.
In the Republican primary, the candidates are Casey Askar, David Burck, Michael Carbonara, Richard Evans, Terri Hasdorff, Belinda Keiser and Michael Thompson.
Candidates for the Democratic primary are Pia Dandiya and Kaysia Earley.
The primary election will be held Aug. 18. Winners advance to the general election Nov. 3.
The candidates’ answers were edited for length.
Pia Dandiya, Democrat
Age: 39
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Previous experience: Educator and school founder; White House Fellow working on education and domestic policy; technology and public sector work at Apple.
Education: Master’s degree in Education
Employment history: Teacher in underserved communities; founder and leader of a public high school in Harlem; White House Fellow; worked at Apple partnering with governments on education, health care and public services.
Campaign priorities: She said she wants to lower the cost of living by creating good-paying jobs and making housing, childcare, healthcare, and insurance more affordable. She also mentioning strengthening public education by investing in universal pre-K, K-12 schools, higher education, and workforce development to expand opportunities for students and workers. She noted protecting economic security and fundamental rights by safeguarding Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, reproductive rights, and democratic institutions.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize? She said policy impacts are felt in vastly different ways in different parts of the district but that lowering the cost of living and putting a check on the current administration are key. She said few districts feel the combined effects of cost-of-living increases and climate impacts as directly as this one.
Noting that South Florida is ground zero for the property insurance crisis, she said families pay some of the highest premiums in the country, and rising seas, chronic flooding, and stronger storms make every one of those costs worse. That combination, sky-high housing and insurance costs layered on top of real climate exposure, sets this district apart and shapes almost every economic conversation, she said.
Campaign website: piaforcongress.com
Quotable: “Few districts feel the combined effects of cost-of-living increases and climate impacts as directly as this one.”
Why should voters choose you?
“I’m running for Congress because I believe we need a new paradigm in American politics to restore people’s belief in the American Dream. I’m proud to be a Democrat because I believe in expanding opportunity, protecting fundamental rights, and making sure our economy works for more people. This is a moment for our party to lead with clarity and deliver on the issues that shape our future.”
Kaysia Earley, Democrat
Age: 44
Hometown: Parkland/Coral Springs, Florida
Previous experience: Founder and attorney at Earley Law Firm; former assistant public defender in Broward County; paralegal specialist with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; nonprofit founder
Education: J.D., St. Thomas University College of Law
Employment history: Founder/attorney, Earley Law Firm (2016–present); paralegal specialist, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2009–2023); assistant public defender, Broward County (2015–2016)
Campaign priorities: She said District 22 deserves experienced representation, noting her law degree and having spent her career interpreting, applying, and defending the rule of law while upholding the Constitution. She noted more than a decade of legal experience, over 100 jury and non-jury trials, and more than 300 dismissals and acquittals.
She mentions the rising cost of living, increasing healthcare expenses, and financial strain on seniors and working families demand immediate action. She notes she’s a caregiver for her mother-in-law, and has seen the difficult choices many families face between healthcare, prescriptions, and basic necessities. She said she founded Seeds of Manna (www.seedsofmanna.org), a nonprofit serving families in need through community outreach and humanitarian efforts.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize?
She said the three most important issues facing residents of District 22 are cost of living/affordability, housing stability, and immigration reform.
To address these challenges, she said she already began drafting legislation. One proposal would provide a “Middle-Class Relief Tax Credit” for hardworking families who earn too much to qualify for welfare programs but still face financial hardship. Another proposal, the “Senior Care Dignity Act”, would provide tax credits to family members who choose to care for aging loved ones at home, recognizing the financial and personal sacrifices caregivers make every day.
Campaign website: kaysiaearleyforcongress.com
Quotable: “The rising cost of living, increasing healthcare expenses, and financial strain on seniors and working families demand immediate action.”
Why should voters choose you?
“Voters should choose me because I have spent my career serving others through advocacy, leadership, and proven results. As a trial attorney with more than 13 years of litigation experience, over 100 jury and non-jury trials to verdict, and more than 300 dismissals and acquittals, I understand how to analyze the law, solve complex problems, and advocate effectively for the people I serve.”My commitment extends far beyond the courtroom. For more than 15 years, I have volunteered hundreds of hours in our community, earning the trust of residents and local leaders. I have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Women of Tomorrow Broward County Mentor of the Year Award, and proclamations from municipalities in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties for my community service.”People often refer to me as “the community attorney” because I have built a reputation for being accessible, responsive, and committed to helping others. I believe public office is about service, not politics. I will bring the same integrity, work ethic, and dedication to Congress that have defined my legal career and community involvement, and I will fight every day for the residents of District 22.”
David Burck, Republican
Age: 36
Hometown: West Palm Beach
Previous experience: United States Marine Corps veteran; West Palm Beach Police Department police officer and gang crimes detective; Major Gifts Officer for Florida at Turning Point USA.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Florida International University (FIU), 2021; Palm Beach Lakes High School, Class of 2008.
Employment history: United States Marine Corps; West Palm Beach Police Department (police officer and gang crimes detective); Turning Point USA (Major Gifts Officer for Florida); Realtor (current occupation).
Campaign priorities:
He said his priorities are the cost of living, community safety, support for families, and accountability and responsible spending in Washington. He said he’s running as an America First conservative who will stand with President Trump to secure the border, bring down inflation, and put working families ahead of Washington insiders. In a district built on agriculture and small business, that also means protecting our farmers, defending property rights, and keeping homeownership within reach, he said.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize?
He called the new 22nd Congressional District large, rural and agricultural. Noting it spans Hendry County, eastern and southern Collier, western Palm Beach, and the northwest corner of Broward, reaching from LaBelle and Clewiston to Immokalee, Ave Maria, Marco Island, Wellington, Belle Glade, Pahokee, and Parkland, he said the geography sets his priorities:He notes agriculture and the farm economy. He said he’d protect the growers, cattlemen, and farmworker communities around Lake Okeechobee and Immokalee, and he’d fight for a strong Farm Bill. He noted the Glades communities depend on water management, Everglades restoration and water quality.He mentioned flood and property insurance. He said he’d reauthorize and reform the National Flood Insurance Program and address Florida’s insurance affordability crisis for homeowners in Marco Island, Everglades City, and flood-prone inland areas.To tackle housing affordability and homeownership, he’d expand supply and protecting private property rights.He said he’d also focus on rural infrastructure and broadband, hurricane preparedness and disaster relief, and support for veterans and seniors.
Campaign website: DavidBurck.com
Quotable: “I am a husband and father who lives here, works here, and will keep showing up for the people I serve. Send me to Congress and you will get someone who answers to you and never forgets who he is fighting for.”
Why should voters choose you?
“Voters should choose me because I have spent my life serving this community, not positioning myself to represent it. I am a lifelong South Florida resident who understands the people of South Florida because I am one of them.”My record is service. I served in the United States Marine Corps, learning discipline and leadership under pressure. As a West Palm Beach police officer and gang crimes detective, I saw what it takes to keep families safe. As a Realtor and business leader, I understand the housing market, property rights, and the cost-of-living pressures on working families.
“I will stand with President Trump and the America First agenda to lower the cost of living, secure the border, protect our farmers, and hold Washington accountable for how it spends the people’s money. EducationFlorida International University (FIU), Bachelor’s degree in English, graduated 2021.High school: Palm Beach Lakes High School, Class of 2008.”I am a husband and father who lives here, works here, and will keep showing up for the people I serve. Send me to Congress and you will get someone who answers to you and never forgets who he is fighting for.”
Michael Carbonara, Republican
Age: 43
Hometown: Weston
Previous experience: First-time candidate with no prior elected office or government appointments; community involvement through business ventures and advocacy within South Florida’s Cuban American community; signed Moms for Liberty Parent Pledge and U.S. Term Limits pledge.
Education: Associate degree in business administration, Ulster County Community College.
Employment history: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ibanera (financial technology company in cross-border payments and digital banking), 2017–October 2025; Founder, Gattaca Genomics (genetics testing laboratory supporting families in fertility care), 2024–present, stepped back from operating roles at the start of the campaign.
Campaign priorities: He mentioned affordability, property insurance and taxes, water and the Everglades, technology on our terms, fiscal accountability and agriculture.
He said his first bill would bar private equity firms and Wall Street investors from buying up single family homes, which has priced a generation of Floridians out of ownership.
He support federal reforms and incentives that lower property insurance rates and reduce the litigation costs driving them.
He promotes full funding for Everglades restoration and Lake Okeechobee water quality, working through the Appropriations process rather than press releases.
He believes America must lead on artificial intelligence, but communities decide what gets built where they live. No data center should raise a family’s power or water bill.
On fiscal accountability, he supports term limits.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize?
He said in Broward and Palm Beach counties, he’d focus on cost of living, property insurance and housing supply.
In Collier and Hendry, he said it’s water, agriculture and infrastructure. He said farm communities in LaBelle, Clewiston and Immokalee need real access to federal programs.
Campaign website: michaelcarbonara.com
Quotable: “I built companies from nothing, across multiple countries and regulatory systems, and that work taught me how government actually touches people, because the difference between a policy that works and one that fails is almost always in the execution, not the press release.”
Why should voters choose you?
“I am not a career politician and I am not asking for this seat as a next step in a political career. I have built payrolls, met them, and answered to regulators and customers who can walk away. That is a different set of instincts than a lifetime in politics produces.
“This district also needs someone who can serve all of it. It stretches from Broward across the Everglades into Collier and Hendry, four counties and several media markets. I have spent this campaign showing up in every one of them, including the small agricultural communities that are used to being an afterthought. Mario Diaz-Balart set a standard for delivering for this territory, and those are large shoes to fill, but that is the standard I intend to hold myself to.
“On the merits, I would ask voters to compare records rather than rhetoric. I am the candidate in this field who has actually built the kind of infrastructure and technology this economy is going to run on, and I am the one who lives in this district and has for years.”
Teri Hasdorff, Republican
Age: 56
Hometown: Wellington
Previous experience: Former congressional staffer, including House Republican Conference leadership; business consultant and CEO; nonprofit executive; author and speaker.
Education: Executive MBA, Oxford University
Employment history: President/CEO, Capitol Solutions Consulting (2019–present); chair, Republican Women’s Federal Forum (2021–present); vice president of government relations, Convoy of Hope (2013–2020); prior roles with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Campaign priorities:
She said her priorities are eliminating wasteful government spending, protecting taxpayer dollars, supporting small businesses and job creation, strengthening the economy, defending Social Security for those who have earned it, supporting veterans and law enforcement, protecting agricultural communities and natural resources and making government accountable to the people again.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize? She said lowering the cost of living by cutting wasteful spending, reducing inflation, and fighting for affordable insurance and energy. She said securing communities by strengthening border security, supporting law enforcement and stopping fentanyl trafficking. She’d support agriculture, restoring the Everglades, investing in infrastructure, and creating an economy where businesses and families can thrive.
Campaign website: terriforcongress.com
Quotable: “I’m running because America needs fighters, not spectators.”
Why should voters choose you?
“Voters should choose me because I have the experience, the integrity, and the proven record to be effective from day one.
“I spent six years working on Capitol Hill, including serving in House Republican leadership as Deputy Director of the House Republican Conference and for Congressman Robert Aderholt, where I learned how Congress works, how the appropriations process shapes our nation’s priorities, and how to deliver results for constituents. I know Washington from the inside, and I know where it is broken.”Although I understand Washington, I am not a career politician. I’ve built a successful career outside of government. As a small business owner and business strategist, I’ve worked with companies, nonprofits, and community leaders to solve problems, create opportunities, and grow our economy. I understand the challenges facing families, entrepreneurs, farmers, and employers because I’ve worked alongside them. I’ve also served in the nonprofit sector, helping raise millions of dollars to support children’s feeding initiatives, disaster relief efforts, and other charitable causes. Throughout my career, my work has been centered on serving others.”
Belinda Keiser, Republican
Age: 67
Hometown: Parkland, Florida
Previous experience: Vice chancellor of community relations and student advancement at Keiser University; member of Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission.
Education: B.S. in Communications, Florida State University; MBA, Nova Southeastern University; paralegal certificate, Keiser University.
Employment history: Vice chancellor, Keiser University (1978–present).
Campaign priorities:
She said her priorities center on three goals.First, strengthening the economy and lower costs for families and seniors. That means supporting policies that reduce inflation, expand American energy production, encourage job creation, reduce unnecessary regulations, protect Social Security and Medicare for current retirees and those nearing retirement, and make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable.Second would be protecting public safety, national security, and American values. She supports securing the borders, backing law enforcement, strengthening military, protecting the integrity of our elections, and defending the constitutional rights and freedoms.Third, she said preserving opportunity and freedom for future generations, which includes expanding workforce and educational opportunities, fostering an environment where businesses can grow and create good-paying jobs, reducing our nation’s debt burden, and ensuring future generations inherit a country that is safe, prosperous, and free.
Specific areas of District 22 would you prioritize?
She said the rising cost of living is tops. She said, while there is no single solution, she supports policies that increase American energy production to lower fuel costs, reduce unnecessary regulations that drive up prices, allow families to keep more of what they earn through responsible tax policies, and promote economic growth that creates better-paying jobs.She is committed to safeguarding Social Security and Medicare for current retirees and those nearing retirement, lowering prescription drug costs, and supporting policies that make quality healthcare more accessible and affordable.She noted protecting the integrity of elections. She supports the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections. I believe this commonsense safeguard will strengthen confidence in our elections and reinforce trust in their outcomes.
Campaign website: votekeiser.com
Quotable: “My priorities … center on strengthening our economy, protecting public safety, and preserving opportunity and freedom for future generations.”
Why should voters choose you?
“Voters should choose me because I offer a combination of deep roots in our community, proven leadership, and a record of delivering results. After calling Florida’s 22nd Congressional District home for more than 36 years, I understand the priorities and challenges facing our families, seniors, and businesses.”For nearly five decades, I have helped create opportunities for others as Vice Chancellor of Keiser University. That experience has given me the practical knowledge to help grow our economy, create jobs, and expand opportunity.”
Casey Askar, Richard Evans, Michael Thompson, Republicans
Askar, Evans and Thompson did not return questionnaires from The Palm Beach Post.
Evans and Thompson were interviewed by the Naples Daily News, a sister publication to The Palm Beach Post.
To learn more about Richard Evans, go here.
To learn more about Michael Thompson, go here.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Post voter guide for US House District 22 primary
Reporting by Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
