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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know US Affairs News India Times (December 13, 2025 - December 19, 2025) December 19, 2025 5 Nirav Shah Campaign Says Candidate For Maine Gubernatorial Primary Is Ahead In Latest Poll A new statewide poll in Maine, re- leased December 10, 2025, shows Nirav Shah in first place in the Democratic primary for governor, leading the field with the highest level of likely support. This is early days as the primary is scheduled to be held on June 9, 2026, and the general election is on November 3. It is a crowded field for Democrats with at 7 candidates currently in the race to get their party’s endorsement. Three Repub- licans are vying for their party’s support come June 9. Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills is term limited and will not be run- ning for a third term. Shah’s campaign says his lead in the poll shows the enthusiasm behind his candidacy and reflects the “deep trust” Shah built with Mainers during his service at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new Pan Atlantic Research Poll — conducted November 29 through Decem- ber 7 — shows Shah leading the field in the 2026 gubernatorial race, with 24% of likely Democratic primary voters saying they would “likely support” his candidacy, the highest of any candidate tested, the press release said. “Mainers saw Nirav Shah lead with clarity, compassion, and courage during one of the most difficult moments in our state’s history,” said Campaign Manager Kayla vanWieringen. “That trust didn’t disappear — it has become the founda- tion of a movement. These results show Mainers believe he is the person to guide us through the challenges ahead as our next Governor.” Shah, who previously led the Maine CDC before serving as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. CDC, “has earned a reputation as a calm, effective problem- solver who brings people together,” the campaign said. His campaign agenda focuses on mak- ing Maine more affordable, strengthening health care, supporting working families, and delivering real results for communi- ties across the state. In response to the new poll, Shah re- leased the following statement: “I’m honored and humbled by the sup- port Mainers are showing in this cam- paign. What I hear every day as I travel across the state — from nurses and small business owners to teachers and retir- ees — is that Maine people are ready for something different. They want a leader who will deliver real change and tackle big challenges: unsustainable increases to the cost of living and housing, an economy that’s not delivering for people, and a health care system that’s struggling and will only get worse because of Trump.” Shah went on to say, “This poll reflects that hunger for change, but it’s only one data point. I’m running to earn Main- ers’ trust every single day by listening, learning, and offering real solutions to the challenges families face.” Campaign leadership say Shah’s rise is driven by the same qualities Mainers came to rely on during the pandemic: steady judgment, clear communication, and a deep commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the state. “As we talk with voters across Maine, the message is unmistakable,” vanWi- eringen added. “People believe in Nirav because they’ve already seen him deliver when it mattered most.” His biography on the campaign web- site, shahformaine.com, shows he was born and raised in a small rural town of 5,000 people in northernWisconsin, attended public schools and went on to do medicine and law at the University of Chicago. He spent a decade working as a health- care lawyer before being chosen to lead the Illinois Department of Public Health, where he oversaw a multi-million-dollar budget, and is credited with working across the aisle to address the opioid crisis, maternal mortality, and childhood lead poisoning. In 2016, Governor Mills appointed him Director of the Maine CDC. As Covid 19 hit, Shah is credited with procuring personal protective equipment to protect healthcare workers, and expanded test- ing. According to his bio, Maine’s vaccine rollout became a model for the nation, and Shah’s record led President Biden to appoint him Principal Deputy Direc- tor of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He returned to Maine when President Trump was elected. Shah currently teaches public health at Colby College. By a StaffWriter By a StaffWriter Ex-White House Official Jay Vaingankar Running For US Congress From NJ’s 12th District G en Z candidate Jay Vaingankar has thrown his hat into the ring for the 12th Congressional Dis- trict seat in New Jersey. He hopes to secure the Democratic Party’s nomi- nation to replace incumbent Congress- woman BonnieWatson Coleman who announced her retirement. The Cook Po- litical Report rates District 12 as a Demo- cratic district, so if Vaingankar is chosen by the Democratic Party as its nominee, he could win the seat. The primaries are scheduled for June 2, 2026. At least 6 Democratic candidates have so far declared their run for Congress, including another Indian American Sujit Singh, according toWikipedia. There are also numerous potential candidates who have expressed interest, among them Shanti Narra, commissioner of Middlesex County, and Tina Shah, former senior advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General. Vaingankar, an ex-White House official, who served also as Special Advisor in the Department of Energy in the Biden administration, is vying to be NJ’s first Gen Z and South Asian member of Congress, a December 8 press release from his cam- paign said. “CongresswomanWatson Coleman broke glass ceilings, and Central Jersey owes a debt of gratitude for her decades of leadership,” Vaingankar is quoted saying in the press release. “I’m running for Con- gress to continue her progressive legacy and carry the baton for the next genera- tion. It’s time to bring new energy to the fight against the Trump Administration and to tackle the affordability crisis.” Born and raised in Mercer County, Vaingankar helped implement what his campaign describes as the largest climate investment in history, including millions in clean energy tax credits for New Jersey. He returned home to work in solar energy to lower utility bills for New Jerseyans and fight the rising cost of living, his campaign said. It is going to be a tough nomination to secure with a crowded field of Democratic nominees, but Vaigankar hopes his federal experience would move him forward. The 12th Congressional District includes Trenton and the Princeton area, as well as communities in Somerset, Middlesex, and Union Counties, most of which house a significant Indian American minority. Vaingankar already has a campaign teammade up of experienced political strategists who have served in other win- ning campaigns as well as in theWhite House, among them, Raghu Devaguptapu who leads electronic media and national outreach. Devaguptapu is the managing partner at TKO Political and Buying. Vaingankar is a graduate of theWhar- ton School of Business where he did Busi- ness Economics and Public Policy (BEPP), and was aWharton Public Policy Research Scholar. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. PHOTO:LINKEDIN @JAYVAIGANKAR PHOTO:@SHAHFORMAINE Jay Vaigankar, candidate for US Congress from NJ District 12. Nirav Shah, candidate for the Democratic primary for Governor of Maine. PHOTO:LINKEDIN @JAYVAIGANKAR Jay Vaigankar with former President Joe Biden.