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NJ Senate candidate says he's OK after apparent medical episode during debate
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 7, 2024
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Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 7, 2024
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New Jersey Senate hopeful Curtis Bashaw says he froze up briefly onstage during Sunday night’s debate — an incident that prompted a 10-minute break for paramedics to check on the Republican — because he hadn’t eaten enough during the day.
Bashaw — who is vying against Democrat and current Rep. Andy Kim for the seat recently vacated by Bob Menendez — was talking about affordability early in the debate when he suddenly stopped, swayed and seemed to have trouble getting out his next word.
After a moment, Kim came over to Bashaw’s podium and asked if he was OK, and Curtis appeared to stammer before responding “yeah.” A few seconds later, an aide appeared by Bashaw’s side and grabbed his arm. Moderator Laura Jones asked to cut to a commercial break to “address some issues here on the stage.”
Bashaw returned to the debate after a short break. The New Jersey Globe, which sponsored the debate, wrote that Bashaw was checked out by paramedics and first responders before returning to the debate stage, and that both candidates “appeared sharp for the rest of the night.”
In a post on X, Bashaw said the episode was the result of him not taking enough time to eat as he campaigned throughout the day.
“Thank you all for the well wishes! I was out campaigning all day, and I never stopped to get a bite to eat. Excited to eat pizza with my fantastic volunteers at the post-debate party tonight,” he wrote.
A later post showed him surrounded by his team, holding an open pizza box with a slice in hand.
The candidates clashed over abortion and immigration in their first of three debates scheduled before the election on Nov. 5.
Bashaw – a hotel entrepreneur from Camden County – is hoping to become the first Republican senator elected in New Jersey since 1972. He's a self-described moderate and pro-choice candidate, but his opponent, Kim, has painted him as an “out-of-touch multimillionaire.” Both are hoping to succeed Menendez, who dropped out of the race and later resigned following his conviction in a wide-ranging corruption scheme.
The two candidates will face off again on Oct. 15 at an event held by NJ Spotlight News and NJ PBS, and again on Oct. 22 at a forum sponsored by News 12 New Jersey.
The Bashaw campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning.
Tagged
new jersey
Politics
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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