Swati A. Dandekar (born March 6, 1951) is a former Iowa state legislator and former U.S. Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank.

Before her election to the Iowa General Assembly, Dandekar was a two-term member of the Linn-Mar Community School District Board from 1996 to 2002.

[1][2] She began her legislative career in 2002, winning an election to the Iowa House District 36, defeating Republican Karen Balderston.

In addition, she has been named Person of the Year three times, once in 2002 by India Abroad, once in 2003 by the Asian Alliance of Iowa, and once in 2008 by AsianWeek.

[2] During her 2014 campaign for the Iowa 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, Dandekar was formally endorsed by the National Organization for Women.