A debate for a vacant Senate seat in New Jersey briefly turned into a terrifying situation when candidate Curtis Bashaw froze for several seconds during what was described as a “medical episode.”
Bashaw, 63, is the Republican candidate for the Senate seat left vacant by the resignation of accused Democrat “Gold Bars” Bob Menendez.
The Republican challenger participated in his first debate against his Democratic opponent Andy Kim, a two-term congressman who beat Gov. Phil Murphy’s wife for the nomination.
The debate was briefly derailed early on when Bashaw stopped speaking mid-sentence and looked ahead, without responding.
Bashaw was initially helped by his opponent Kim before he was helped off stage and left the room for approximately 10 minutes.
New Jersey Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw shocked viewers when he began freezing for several seconds during a debate with what was described as a “medical episode.”
“I got so worried about the 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 more in a social media post after Sunday night’s contest.
‘Thank you all for the good wishes! I was campaigning all day and never stopped to eat something. ‘I’m excited to eat pizza with my fantastic volunteers at the post-debate party tonight!’
He later proved it by sharing a photo of himself with his staff enjoying a classic slice of Jersey.
Bashaw posted on social media: ‘Update: (pizza) purchased. Thank you all for your support!’
Viewers at home were a little surprised by the moment.
‘I’m not sure what happened, but New Jersey Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw looked like he was about to faint or maybe he had some kind of medical problem. They just interrupted the debate because of it,” wrote one conservative on social media.
Another added: “Not sure what happened but I hope Curtis Bashaw is okay.”
The debate was briefly derailed early on when Bashaw stopped speaking mid-sentence and looked ahead, without responding. Bashaw was initially assisted by his opponent Kim before he was helped off stage and left the room for approximately 10 minutes.
“Scary moment in the Senate debate between Curtis Bashaw and Andy Kim, where Curtis grips the dais tightly and leans on it like he’s going to fall, Andy walks over to make sure he’s okay,” wrote another.
Kim’s attendance was a brief moment of unity during a debate where the candidates often clashed.
One of the sharpest exchanges was that of abortion. Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw has said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision ending Roe v. Wade.
New Jersey has enshrined abortion protections in state law.
“I basically have a problem with using the term ‘pro-choice’ to describe yourself when you’ve talked about the importance of the Dobbs decision being made correctly,” Kim said.
He also criticized Bashaw for his support of Trump, who has twice lost New Jersey’s electoral votes.
“The only support he has given is for Donald Trump to be president of the United States,” Kim said. “And I guess from that we can get an idea of his judgment.”
Bashaw, who defeated a Trump-backed rival in the primary, did not explicitly defend the former president.
One of the sharpest exchanges was that of abortion. Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw has said he supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision ending Roe v. Wade.
Kim’s attendance was a brief moment of unity during a debate where the candidates often clashed.
“Elections are binary options and we all have to make a decision,” he said.
He promoted his own candidacy based on his credentials as a businessman and resisted being pigeonholed as a traditional Republican, noting that he supports abortion rights and is a married gay man.
‘I’m pro-choice, Congressman. “I’m for freedom in the home,” Bashaw said. ‘I don’t think the government should tell me who I can marry. I don’t think it should tell women what they can do about their reproductive health choices.’
Bashaw repeatedly criticized immigration, saying it is “a crisis in New Jersey” and that it is costing the state.
In a reflection of how Democratic-leaning New Jersey has been in Senate elections, which Republicans have not won in more than five decades, Bashaw addressed her closing remarks 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 won a House seat in 2018, defeating Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur. He gained national attention after the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection when he was photographed picking up trash in the building.
Bashaw won a close primary in June, defeating a Trump-backed opponent. The Cape May hotel developer is running for election for the first time.
Menendez was convicted this summer on federal charges of accepting bribes in gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as an agent of the Egyptian government. He has promised to appeal the conviction.
He resigned in August, ending a career in politics that spanned roughly five decades.
Democratic Governor Phil Murphy 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 position for the remainder of Menendez’s term, which expires in January.