Rep. Andy Kim vs. Curtis Bashaw: The battle for Menendez's US Senate seat
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – The candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey that’s up for grabs because of the conviction and resignation of Bob Menendez are set to speak on PIX11 News Thursday night.
You can watch the candidates and host Dan Mannarino in New Voice for NJ: Race for U.S. Senate on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on PIX11, PIX11.com and PIX11+.
Menendez, a three-term senator, resigned his seat on Aug. 20 after he was convicted on 16 criminal counts, including bribery, conspiracy, fraud and making false statements. Menendez traded his power as chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for bribes allegedly linked to several New Jersey businessmen with ties to the Egyptian government, prosecutors argued.
The conviction came after prosecutors said gold bars, envelopes of cash, a Mercedes, and more were found in Menendez's home.
Gov. Phil Murphy has appointed his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to temporarily take office until the people of New Jersey vote on Menendez's replacement.
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim and Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw overcame challenges to face each other head-on in the upcoming election.
In his battle to become the Democratic candidate, Kim defeated a controversial ballot design unique to the Garden State. It gave local party bosses unrestrained influence over elections, giving party-backed candidates an advantage in the primaries.
Kim's legal victory came after New Jersey's first lady, Tammy Murphy, dropped out of the race following her controversial run for the Senate seat. Still, the judge's ruling also upended other contested primaries across the state.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican candidate Curtis Bashaw faced his upward battle. A real estate developer who has never run for office, Bashaw did what many in the GOP could not: He defeated an opponent with former President Donald Trump's support.
Still, Bashaw supported Trump in a previous interview with PIX11's Dan Mannarino.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.