ARTICLE: Former MAGA Influencer Admits: It’s All for Money (Zeteo)
Ragebait newsletter by Justin Baragona | April 15, 2026
Progressive Candidate Gets Loomered – and Then the Threats Came
Jay Vaingankar, a progressive Gen Z South Asian candidate running for Congress in New Jersey's 12th District, has found himself on the receiving end of racist attacks and death threats after he posted a campaign video in Hindi earlier this month.
The son of Hindi-speaking immigrants, Vaingankar – one of 13 Democrats vying for the seat – released the ad to reach voters in the demographically diverse district. Data show that two in five households in the area speak a primary language other than English, with Hindi among the most common.
It didn't take long for anti-immigrant and outright bigoted far-right influencers, such as the anonymous End Wokeness account and “proud Islamophobe” Laura Loomer, to blast the ad – calling it “America Last.”
While NJ.com already reported on the social media hate blitz aimed at Vaingankar, the 28-year-old's campaign shared with Zeteo that it had also received extremely concerning and profane emails and direct messages – including one threatening to report the US-born candidate to ICE in order to stop his campaign.
“You are despicable & you will be deported. I will call ICE and I will make sure you lose this election. I hate you and everyone like you,” one person, in an email with the subject line “Speak English!,” exclaimed.
Additionally, replies to some of the right-wing influencers’ social media attacks included over threats. “They're doing it again because you didn't hang them last time,” one commented posted, while another said: “The only answer is blood spilled. Sucks, but that's the truth.”
Though campaign manager Devontae Freeland lamented that the local New Jersey political establishment has “mostly been silent” on the wave of anti-immigrant hate directed at Vaingankar, he noted that prominent Democrats across the country have expressed solidarity with the campaign. And that has also resulted in endorsements.
“I am proud to endorse Jay Vaingankar for Congress, and I look forward to his leadership in our nation's capital,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) announced this week.
