In the race for New Jersey’s Senate seat, Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw have participated in two lively debates so far.
The candidates discussed their differences on ma꧅jor issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy.
Their de💦bates gave voters a chance to see how these candidates plan to address the future o⛎f New Jersey after Bob Menendez’s resignation.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the key points from their first two debat𝓀es to help y🐽ou see where each stands.
- Both candidates support abortion rights, but Bashaw praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which led to disagreement with Kim.
- Bashaw argued for tougher border security and criticized current immigration policies, while Kim called for more balanced reform with legal pathways.
- Kim advocated for corporate tax reforms to help middle- and lower-income families, while Bashaw focused on supporting small businesses to improve affordability in New Jersey.
Abortion Rights: A Major Difference in Views
The topic of abortion rights was a major issue in both de🉐bates, with💃 each candidate expressing different views.
In the first debate, Curtis Bashaw, a pro-choice Republican, said he supports personal freedoms but also approved of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
He explained this by saying that it allows st🐲ate𒀰s to make their laws about abortion.
“I am pro-choice, congressman. I am for freedom in the home,” Bashaw said.
He also added that he suppo💙rts the idea of letting states make their own decisions on aborti💦on, like New Jersey, which has kept strong protections for abortion rights.
ไAndy Kim, on the other hand, clearly diওsagreed with Bashaw’s approval of the court’s decision.
Kim stated that he wantꦿs to protec🦩t abortion rights on a national level.
He pointed out his support⭕ for the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee the right to an abortion across the country.
“Bashaw agrees with the Dobbs decision that removed the constitutional protection for abortion, and I strongly disagree with that,” Kim said during the second debate.
This difference set the stage for a larger conversation about how both candidates see the role of government in private matterꦓs.
Immigration and Border Security
Immigration policy was a frequent topic in both debates, and the candidates took very different stan🎶ces on how to handle the issue.
Bashaw f๊ocu🗹sed on the need for stronger border security.
He argued that the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is a “crisis” for New Jersey and that federal immigration policies are causing more undocumented immigrants ♌to enter the country, leading to increased costs for the state.
In the second debate, Bashaw said, “We should decouple border security from immigration policy,” meaning that securi♛ng the border should be treated separately from discussions about🧸 immigration laws.
Kim supported the idea of border security but argued that a more🥀 comprehensive approach is needed to fix the immigration system.
According to Kim, the U.S🅷. has only 682 immigration judges to handle over 3 mi🤡llion pending cases—a problem he argues will take years to resolve without bipartisan solutions.
He believes there should be more leg🐈al pathways for immigrants, especially high-skilled workers who want to contribute to the economy.
“We have to take a serious, balanced approach to immigration,” Kim said during the second debate, also criticiz💛ing Republicans for turning immigration into a political issue.
This exchange showed the clear divide between Bashaw’s focus on strict sec🍌urity and Kim’🍸s broader vision of reform.
Economic Issues
Both candidates agreed that affordability is a major issue for people in New Jersey, buไt they had different ideas about how to solve it.
In 🅠the first debate, Bashaw leaned on his experience ﷽as a businessman.
H🔴e argued that helping small bus✨inesses grow and reducing government interference is the best way to fix the economy.
He said, “I believe in unshackling businesses and letting them grow,” showing his belief that the private sector, not the government🍬, is key to creating jobs and improving the൩ state’s financial situation.
Kim, in contrast, advocated for progressive policies that🔥 support middle- and lower-𝔉income families.
He pushed for raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicare to include vision and dental coverage, and implementing fair﷽ tax po🧸licies for large corporations.
During the second debate, Kim also brought up the racial wealth gap in New Jersey, pointing out that there’s a $300,000 gap between white families and minority families, which he said could be addressed with targeꦑted policies.
“Big corporations need to pay their fair share in taxes. The gap between the wealthiest and the rest of us continues to grow,” Kim said.
This discussion showed that Bashaw wants less government involvement in the economy, while Kim believes that targeted government p🐎rograms are necessary to reduce inequality and help middle-class families.
What’s Next: Preparing for the Final Debate
Wit💙h two debates completed, both candidates are now preparing for their final deba💙te on October 22.
This upcoming debate will focus more on economic issues, social pol🃏icies, and global matter🦂s.
Voters can expect Kim and Bashaw to present their strongest arguments in this important last 🌳meet🌳ing before Election Day.
As the race for New Jersey’s Senate seat heats up, these debates have given voters a clear view of each candidate’s position on key issues.
From protecting abortion rights to reforming immigration policies and addressing economic challenges, Andy Kim and Curtis Bashaw have offered distinct choices for New Jersey’s future.
Stay tuned fo🧔r more updates as th♛e campaign moves forward, and the candidates get ready for their final debate.
