PRESS RELEASE: Secretary Jennifer Granholm Endorses Jay Vaingankar in NJ-12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026
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Secretary Jennifer Granholm endorses Jay Vaingankar in NJ-12
Former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Two-Term Governor, and NJ Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Energy Affordability Transition Lead Endorses Gen Z Clean Energy Champion for Congress
Princeton Junction, NJ (April 2, 2026) – Today, former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm endorsed Jay Vaingankar for Congress in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. After serving as two-term Governor of Michigan and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Granholm most recently co-led New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill's Transition Action Team on the energy affordability crisis. The endorsement comes as Vaingankar’s campaign announced a nearly $110K first-quarter fundraising haul and $260K overall raise earlier today.
“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,” said former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “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 skyhigh utility bills that is crushing New Jersey families.”
Vaingankar is a Gen Z former Biden White House and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) official and son of Indian immigrants running for Congress in Central Jersey. While serving in Secretary Granholm's Office of Policy at DOE, Vaingankar worked to implement the Inflation Reduction Act and traveled across New Jersey and the United States to help Democratic and Republican state and local leaders unlock clean energy tax credits and lower costs for working families. After the Biden Administration, he returned home to work in solar energy to lower utility bills for New Jerseyans and fight the rising cost of living.
“I'm honored to have Secretary Granholm's support 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,” said Gen Z clean energy champion Jay Vaingankar. “Now, at a moment when Donald Trump is threatening to roll back that progress, we urgently need leaders with the energy to fight back and the experience to hit the ground running.”
Vaingankar is the only candidate in the crowded NJ-12 field with experience working in Washington, D.C. Granholm’s endorsement underscores Vaingankar’s record of delivering results and builds momentum behind a next-generation campaign focused on lowering costs, expanding clean energy, and bringing new leadership to Washington.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.JayVaingankar.com or follow @JayforJersey on all social media.
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