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.<\/p>\n
The candidates discussed their differences on major issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy.<\/p>\n
Their debates gave voters a chance to see how these candidates plan to address the future of New Jersey after Bob Menendez\u2019s resignation.<\/p>\n
Below is a detailed breakdown of the key points from their first two debates to help you see where each stands.<\/p>\n
The topic of abortion rights was a major issue in both debates, with each candidate expressing different views.<\/p>\n
In the first debate, Curtis Bashaw, a pro-choice Republican, said he supports personal freedoms but also approved of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade<\/i>.<\/p>\n
He explained this by saying that it allows states to make their laws about abortion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pro-choice, congressman. I am for freedom in the home<\/i>,\u201d Bashaw said.<\/p>\n
He also added that he supports the idea of letting states make their own decisions on abortion, like New Jersey, which has kept strong protections for abortion rights.<\/p>\n
Andy Kim, on the other hand, clearly disagreed with Bashaw\u2019s approval of the court\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
Kim stated that he wants to protect abortion rights on a national level.<\/p>\n
He pointed out his support for the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee the right to an abortion across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cBashaw agrees with the Dobbs decision that removed the constitutional protection for abortion, and I strongly disagree with that<\/i>,\u201d Kim said during the second debate.<\/p>\n
This difference set the stage for a larger conversation about how both candidates see the role of government in private matters.<\/p>\n
Immigration policy was a frequent topic in both debates, and the candidates took very different stances on how to handle the issue.<\/p>\n
Bashaw focused on the need for stronger border security.<\/p>\n
He argued that the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is a \u201ccrisis\u201d for New Jersey and that federal immigration policies are causing more undocumented immigrants to enter the country, leading to increased costs for the state.<\/p>\n
In the second debate, Bashaw said, \u201cWe should decouple border security from immigration policy,<\/i>\u201d meaning that securing the border should be treated separately from discussions about immigration laws.<\/p>\n
Kim supported the idea of border security but argued that a more comprehensive approach is needed to fix the immigration system.<\/p>\n
According to Kim, the U.S. has only 682 immigration judges to handle over 3 million pending cases\u2014a problem he argues will take years to resolve without bipartisan solutions.<\/p>\n
He believes there should be more legal pathways for immigrants, especially high-skilled workers who want to contribute to the economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to take a serious, balanced approach to immigration<\/i>,\u201d Kim said during the second debate, also criticizing Republicans for turning immigration into a political issue.<\/p>\n
This exchange showed the clear divide between Bashaw\u2019s focus on strict security and Kim\u2019s broader vision of reform.<\/p>\n
Both candidates agreed that affordability is a major issue for people in New Jersey, but they had different ideas about how to solve it.<\/p>\n
In the first debate, Bashaw leaned on his experience as a businessman.<\/p>\n
He argued that helping small businesses grow and reducing government interference is the best way to fix the economy.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cI believe in unshackling businesses and letting them grow,<\/i>\u201d showing his belief that the private sector, not the government, is key to creating jobs and improving the state\u2019s financial situation.<\/p>\n
Kim, in contrast, advocated for progressive policies that support middle- and lower-income families.<\/p>\n