A debate between Democratic Representative Andy Kim and Republican Curtis Bashaw for New Jersey’s Senate seat was halted after the GOP candidate appeared to stop talking mid-sentence and freeze.
Viewers of the debate suggested that Curtis seemed to be having a “medical episode” while on stage.
A clip of the incident was shared on social media. “Curtis Bashaw appears to have medical episode during NJ senate debate,” one user of X, formerly Twitter, posted.
Shlomo Schorr, director of legislative affairs at Agudath Israel of America New Jersey’s office, added: “A frightening moment during tonight’s Senate debate between Republican Curtis Bashaw and Democrat Andy Kim as Bashaw seemed to experience an apparent medical episode moments ago.”
Bashaw later returned to the debate stage, and blamed the incident on not eating food before the debate.
The Context
Sunday’s debate was the first one between Kim and Bashaw as they compete for New Jersey’s Senate seat.
Veteran Senator Bob Menendez resigned from the seat in August after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges.
New Jersey Republican Senate candidate Curtis Bashaw, left, speaks to reporters after the first debate in the Senate race against Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, not pictured, Sunday, October 6, 2024, in Nutley, New Jersey. Bashaw appeared to freeze on stage while taking part in the debate.
Mike Catalini/AP photo
What We Know
While answering a question during the Sunday debate, Bashaw seems to start slurring his words before stopping talking entirely.
Kim can then be heard asking his rival if he is OK, to which Bashaw replies “yeah.”
After Bashaw remains still on stage, Kim seems to ask Bashaw’s team if they want to assist the Republican. One of Bashaw’s team comes on stage and holds him by the arm.
The debate moderator paused the debate for a commercial break while they “address some issues” on the stage.
Bashaw returned to the stage around 10 minutes later and continued the debate.
“I got so worked up about this affordability issue that I realized I hadn’t eaten so much food today,” Bashaw said. “So I appreciate your indulgence.”
Bashaw also said lack of food was the reason for what occurred on the debate stage in a social media post.
“Thank you all for the well wishes! I was out campaigning all day, and I never stopped to get a bite to eat,” Bashaw posted on X. “Excited to eat pizza with my fantastic volunteers at the post-debate party tonight!”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
