Democratic congressional candidate Jay Vaingankar announced on December 9 that he raised more than $126,000 in the first 24 hours of his campaign, which launched December 8. Vaingankar is seeking to become New Jersey’s first Gen Z and first South Asian member of Congress, running in the 12th Congressional District.

According to a statement from his campaign, more than 200 individuals contributed within the first day, with over half of them under the age of 30. Donations came from every county in the district, which the campaign said reflects broad enthusiasm for Vaingankar’s focus on addressing the cost of living, injecting new energy into politics, and driving generational change.

“I’m grateful for the backing of so many grassroots supporters, especially young people. Their enthusiasm allows our campaign to focus on the voters of Central Jersey – and not special interests,” said Vaingankar. “I was born and raised in this district and took the train home to Jersey every other weekend while serving in the federal government. I’m ready to fight for our community to tackle rising costs, create jobs, and stand up to the Trump Administration.”

The campaign credited his Mercer County upbringing, which emphasized the value of “hard work” and a respect for “diversity.” It noted that Vaingankar previously worked in the Biden White House and the Department of Energy, where he helped implement millions of dollars in federal clean energy tax credits for New Jersey. He is the only candidate in the race with federal government experience.

“The groundswell of support for this campaign shows that Jay’s infectious energy is resonating with people across Central Jersey,” campaign manager Devontae Freeland said. “Voters want new leadership that understands their struggles and can stand up to the Trump agenda. This early momentum gives us the resources we need to organize in every corner of the district and make sure Jay’s message reaches every voter.”

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