Jay Vaingankar Bags New Endorsement, Raises $260,000
India-West News Desk
PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ- Former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm has endorsed Jay Vaingankar for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.
Granholm, who previously served as a two-term Governor of Michigan and recently co-led New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Transition Action Team on the energy affordability crisis, backed Vaingankar citing his work and experience in clean energy.
“I am proud to endorse Jay Vaingankar because I know he will deliver cost-cutting policies that create economic growth and opportunity for Central Jerseyans,” Granholm said. “While at the Department of Energy, Jay worked alongside me and colleagues across the federal government to deliver historic levels of investment in clean energy and to cut costs for Americans. Jay is prepared to deliver from day one in Congress, to stand up to Trump and his billionaire friends, and to tackle the crisis of sky-high utility bills that is crushing New Jersey families.”
Vaingankar previously served in the Biden administration, including roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Policy. During his tenure, he worked on implementing the Inflation Reduction Act and engaged with state and local leaders across the United States on clean energy tax credits and cost reduction efforts.
After his time in government, Vaingankar returned to New Jersey and worked in the solar energy sector. He is the son of Indian immigrants and is contesting the NJ-12 seat.
“I’m honored to have the support of Secretary Granholm, and grateful to have served under her leadership at the Department of Energy to create jobs, lower costs, protect our planet, and defend U.S. national security,” Vaingankar said. “At a moment when Donald Trump is rolling back that progress, we urgently need leaders with the energy to fight back and the experience to hit the ground running.”
The endorsement comes as Vaingankar’s campaign reported raising nearly $110,000 in the first quarter and approximately $260,000 overall.
