A debate over a vacant Senate seat in New Jersey briefly turned frightening when candidate Curtis Bashaw froze for several seconds during what was described as a “medical episode.”
Bashaw, 63, is the Republican nominee for the Senate seat left vacant by the resignation of indicted Democrat “Gold Bars” Bob Menendez.
The GOP hopeful competed in his first debate against Democratic opponent Andy Kim, a two-term congressman who defeated Gov. Phil Murphy’s wife for the nomination.
The debate was briefly derailed at the beginning when Bashaw stopped speaking mid-sentence and stared into space unresponsive.
Bashaw was initially assisted by opponent Kim before being helped off the stage and leaving the venue for about 10 minutes.
New Jersey Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw stunned viewers when he began freezing for several seconds during a debate with what was described as a ‘medical episode’
“I got so excited about this affordability issue that I realized I hadn’t eaten that much food today,” Bashaw said when he returned. “So I appreciate your indulgence.”
The Republican explained this further in a post on social media on Sunday evening after the game.
‘Thank you all for the get well wishes! I was campaigning all day and never stopped for a bite to eat. I’m excited to eat pizza tonight with my wonderful volunteers at the post-debate party!’
He later proved this by sharing a photo of himself with his staffers enjoying a classic Jersey piece.
Bashaw posted on social media: ‘Update: [pizza] bought. Thanks for your support, everyone!’
Viewers at home were a little shocked by the moment.
“I’m not sure what happened, but New Jersey Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw looked like he was about to pass out or maybe had a medical problem. They simply stopped the debate because of it,” one conservative wrote on social media.
Another said: ‘Not sure what happened but I hope Curtis Bashaw is doing well.’
The debate was briefly derailed at the beginning when Bashaw stopped speaking mid-sentence and stared into space unresponsive. Bashaw was initially assisted by opponent Kim before being helped off the stage and leaving the venue for about 10 minutes
“Creepy moment in the Senate debate between Curtis Bashaw and Andy Kim where Curtis is holding the stand tightly and leaning on it like he might fall over, Andy comes over to make sure everything is okay,” another wrote.
Kim’s help was a brief moment of unity during a debate in which the candidates often clashed.
One of the most focused discussions was about abortion. Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw has said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
New Jersey has enshrined abortion protections in state law.
“I just have a fundamental problem with using the term ‘pro-choice’ to describe yourself when you’ve talked about the importance of getting the Dobbs decision right,” Kim said.
He also hammered Bashaw on his support for Trump, who has twice lost New Jersey’s electoral votes.
“The only show of support he has made is for Donald Trump to become president of the United States,” Kim said. “And I think that gives us an idea of his judgment.”
Bashaw, who defeated a Trump-backed rival in the primaries, did not explicitly defend the former president.
One of the most focused discussions was about abortion. Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw has said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Kim’s assistance was a brief moment of unity during a debate in which the candidates often clashed
“Elections are binary choices, and we all have to make a decision,” he said.
He touted his own candidacy based on his credentials as a businessman and resisted being characterized as a traditional Republican, noting that he supports abortion rights and is a married gay man.
“I’m pro-choice, Congressman. I am for freedom at home,” Bashaw said. ‘I don’t think the government should tell me who I can marry. “I don’t think it should tell a woman what she can do with her reproductive health choices.”
Bashaw repeatedly hammered immigration, saying it is “a New Jersey crisis” and costing the state a lot of money.
Reflecting how Democratic-leaning New Jersey has been in Senate races, which Republicans haven’t won in more than 50 years, Bashaw addressed his closing statements to the women and mothers of New Jersey.
“I am a moderate, common-sense person who will work to be a voice for New Jersey,” he said.
Kim first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur. He gained national attention following the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, when he was photographed collecting trash in the building.
Bashaw won a contentious primary in June, defeating a Trump-backed opponent. The hotel developer from Cape May is running for office for the first time.
Menendez was convicted this summer on federal charges of taking bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. He has promised to appeal the conviction.
He resigned in August, capping a career in politics that spanned about five decades.
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has appointed George Helmy as interim senator. Helmy said he will resign after the election is certified so Murphy can appoint whoever wins the election to the seat for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which ends in January.