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Vaingankar qualifies for NJ-12 primary debate
He is one of five candidates in the 13-person field to meet the debate threshold.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 08, Apr 2026
- 17:33 EDT
- 25
Jay Vaingankar / Jay Vaingankar via X
Jay Vaingankar, running for Congress from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, has qualified for the Democratic primary debate, his campaign announced on April 8.
The 28-year-old is one of five candidates in the 13-person Democratic field to meet the debate threshold, which includes either raising at least $250,000 or securing endorsements from elected officials across the district.
Also Read: Jyot Singh releases first ad in Georgia House race
“This is an important opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates,” Vaingankar said. The debate, hosted by New Jersey Globe, will be held on April 26 at 7 p.m. at Rider University and will air nationally on C-SPAN, with a livestream also planned.
Vaingankar’s campaign said it has raised more than $260,000 since launching in December. Earlier this month he reported having raised nearly $110,000 in the first quarter of 2026 and about $260,000 overall in the open-seat race to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The campaign has also highlighted endorsements and outside support, including from former U.S. Energy Secretary and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, as it seeks to build momentum in the multi-candidate contest. It has also received backing from groups such as the Indian American Impact Fund and AAPI Victory Fund.
“This campaign has always been about making our voices heard through organizing on the ground,” Vaingankar said in a statement. “We’re proud to have made the debate stage because of the voters backing us across NJ-12 who want a new generation of leadership focused on lowering costs, achieving universal health care, and putting an end to forever wars.”
“Several career politicians in this race have skipped candidate forums to avoid answering tough questions about their records, including their ties to AIPAC and corporate PAC money. At the same time, we’ve been taking on MAGA extremists like Laura Loomer and refusing to back down – and that’s exactly the kind of fight we’ll bring to Congress to represent the diverse communities of NJ-12,” he added.
Vaingankar has recently drawn wider attention after a Hindi-language campaign video targeting South Asian voters prompted attacks from far-right commentator Laura Loomer.
The race has drawn attention as one of the more competitive Democratic primaries in New Jersey this cycle, with 13 candidates seeking the nomination in a district considered safely Democratic.
The Democratic primary will be held on June 2.
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