Brian Mast, challenger Pia Dandiya raise $1M combined in Q1 toward battle for CD 21

by | Apr 24, 2026 | Politics

Both the incumbent and his challenger in Florida’s 21st Congressional District added large sums of cash to their respective war chests last quarter, topping $1 million combined in the Southeast Florida contest.

Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast raised more than $602,000, with big contributions coming from tech and financial industry leaders, along with a wave of PAC donations and smaller, bundled checks.

Democrat Pia Dandiya, meanwhile, amassed more than $410,000, nearly half of which — $197,000 — was self-loaned and can be refunded, if unspent.

Mast, who has represented the Treasure Coast and portions of Palm Beach on Capitol Hill since 2017, entered April with more than $2.5 million on hand.

Dandiya had close to $1.2 million, far more than her only active Primary opponent, Bernard Taylor, who turned in a comparatively modest fundraising haul of $8,500 and ended the quarter with just over $23,000 left.

Mast’s largest gain between Jan. 1 and March 31 was a $41,000 transfer from Mast Victory Committee, an associated joint fundraising committee that has separately raised about $1.5 million.

Hundreds of people gave to his campaign last quarter, including well over a dozen who contributed the maximum $7,000, equal to $3,500 apiece for the Primary and General elections, which are legally considered separate contests.

His maxed-out givers included Disaster Management Group CEO Nathan Albers; National Nuclear Security Administration Associate Administrator Lee Ashlock; billionaire venture capitalist Howard Cox; New Jersey construction executive Nelson Ferreira; Silgan Holdings Co-Chair Gregory Horrigan; Ascent Managing Partner Kevin Jones; former Marvel Entertainment Chair Isaac Perlmutter and his wife, Laura; Audax Group Co-CEO Geoffrey Rehnert; and Apollo Global CEO Mark Rowan and his wife, Carolyn.

Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith gave Mast $6,600, while Palm Beach luxury fashion designer Eric Javits gave $4,500 and Lester Munson, international and trade practice co-head for lobbying firm BGR Group, chipped in $3,000.

Harry Byrd III of Virginia, the son and grandson of U.S. Senators, gave $500. Joseph Catrambone, CEO of the Stuart-Martin Chamber of Commerce, contributed $100.

A doctor by trade, Catrambone drew criticism this month for suggesting on LinkedIn that the Food and Drug Administration should test on Democrats instead of animals. He apologized.

Brian Mast, a U.S. Army veteran with Bronze Star and Purple Heart honors, is seeking a sixth term in Congress. Image via Florida Politics file.

Thirty PACs donated to Mast in Q1. Several were political arms of labor and trade groups, including the Amalgamated Transit Union, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Automobile Dealers Association and National Marine Manufacturers Association, all of which gave $5,000.

The American Bankers Association PAC and National Beer Wholesalers PAC gave $2,500 apiece, while the Trucking PAC of America and National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association chipped in $1,500 apiece.

From the defense and aerospace sector, the Northrop Grumman PAC gave $2,500, as did a Raytheon-associated organization. General Dynamics and Leidos gave $1,000 each through their respective political arms.

Delta Air Lines gave $3,500, while BNSF RailPAC gave $3,000, and American Airlines donated $1,000.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee gave Mast an additional $3,200, pushing its total giving to him this cycle past the $40,000 mark.

Other contributions included $3,500 from the Lean Forward American Fund and Nestpoint PAC, $3,200 from Sun PAC, $2,500 from Albanians for America PAC and $2,000 from Deciding Critical Races PAC.

Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Williams of Texas gave Mast $1,000.

Mast spent close to $475,000, with the majority devoted to direct mail and fundraising operations. The largest recipient, by far, was Port Orange-based Response America, which got more than $220,000 for direct marketing.

Fundraising and digital consulting formed the next-largest category, with more than $90,000 spent last quarter, led by Virginia-based Impression Strategy, which received about $45,000. Mast also paid about $25,000 to Washington-based MMR Solutions, $20,000 to ZDB Inc. in Coral Gables and $16,000 to ANE Strategies in Cape Canaveral.

Compliance and legal costs totaled more than $26,000, while payroll came in slightly below that.

The rest of Mast’s spending covered events, travel and operational overhead, including more than $24,000 in credit card charges.

Pia Dandiya, a former high school principal, White House fellow and strategic initiatives lead for Apple, has been collecting endorsements and campaign cash in her inaugural run for office. Image via Pia Dandiya.

While Mast leaned heavily on political and industry donors, Dandiya relied more on smaller contributions and a handful of progressive PACs, along with a sizable transfer from her bank account, to replenish her coffers.

She accepted $7,000 contributions from Lionheart Holdings CEO Adam Alpert of Delray Beach and his wife, Gisela; New York investor-philanthropist Seth Merrin; Deepak Nath, CEO of medical technology company Smith+Nephew; three donors with the last name Israni who listed Texas addresses; and several retirees from across the country.

Former American Airlines President and CEO Robert Crandall donated $3,500. Josh Kraft, head of Kraft Family Philanthropies, gave $2,500.

Dandiya also received $5,000 from Aspire PAC, $1,000 from At the Table! and Serve America PAC, and $500 from the Democracy Mobilization Project PAC and the New Democracy Fund.

Dandiya spent roughly $165,000 last quarter, with spending heavily concentrated in fundraising infrastructure and consulting, which totaled nearly $80,000.

That included $56,000 paid to Kinetic Strategies in New York, $13,500 to Lawlor Strategies in Colorado and smaller contracts with Colorado-based Dialogue Digital and A Double EE LLC, a Stuart company.

Another $26,899 went to a broader strategy, led by close to $15,000 paid to Wilton Manors-based 1776 Inc and $12,000 to Amare Public Affairs in Tampa.

Payroll and related taxes totaled about $13,600, while voter data and targeting added nearly $7,000.

The remainder covered compliance, printing, communications work and donation-processing fees.

A fourth active candidate in the race, former actor-turned entrepreneur Amr Metwally of Jensen Beach, listed “other” on the party affiliation line of his candidate form.

Metwally’s campaign website says he wants to repeal the 19th Amendment, which protects women’s rights to vote, and is rife with antisemitic rhetoric, including a claim that he was “terminated from JewTube in 2019 when the CIA saw me there.”

He has yet to report a single dollar raised or spent.

CD 21 includes all of Martin and St. Lucie counties and part of northern Palm Beach County.

The District leans Republican — R+7, per the Cook Political Report — but has pockets of Democratic strength, particularly in suburban communities where education and health care are top concerns.

The Primary Election is on Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.

Candidates faced an April 15 deadline to report all campaign finance activity through March 31.

The post Brian Mast, challenger Pia Dandiya raise $1M combined in Q1 toward battle for CD 21 appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

Written By

Written by Albert Pham, News Curator and Blogger

Related Posts

0 Comments