Curtis Bashaw, a former hotel bellhop and waiter who became a real estate developer and hotelier from Cape May County, today joined the race for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate seat currently held by indicted three-term Democrat Bob Menendez.
“We, as a nation, need to get back to our basic core values of liberty, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness,” Bashaw stated “Too many New Jerseyans believe the American Dream is out of reach and that Washington isn’t working in their best interests. I’m running to bring freedom, security, and opportunity to all New Jersey families — not just the political elite.”
Bashaw, 63, is a moderate who served in Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey’s administration and opposed Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign – he donated to Libertarian Gary Johnson – but his campaign chairman, State Sen. Michael Testa, Jr. (R-Vineland), served as co-chair of Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign in New Jersey.
The anticipated announcement sets up a GOP primary fight with Christine Serrano Glassner, the mayor of Mendham Borough and a former Bush administration official with close ties to Trump.
Former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy entered the race on Friday, and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan is also considering a Senate run.
Bashaw, whose economic development work led to the restoration of Congress Hall, a historic hotel in Cape May, and dozens of other projects.
“Inflation is hurting New Jersey families, and our open border is a national security threat and a humanitarian crisis,” said Bashaw. “D.C. politicians haven’t been able to fix these serious problems, and as a result, our freedom and security are in jeopardy. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on bringing people together, finding common-sense solutions, and helping communities reach their economic potential — and that’s exactly what I’ll do in the United States Senate.”
This is Bashaw’s first run for public office. While McGreevey was governor, he served as executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, which used revenues from Atlantic City casinos to invest in economic development projects across the state.
Testa vouched for Bashaw’s Republican credentials.
“Curtis Bashaw has been a friend and supporter for many years. He’s an employer who’s created over one-thousand jobs who will bring back the American Dream for all New Jerseyan,” Testa said. “I look forward to working with Curtis and his team in putting together a winning campaign that fights for freedom, security, and opportunity for every New Jersey taxpayer.”
A graduate of Wheaton College and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Bashaw would become New Jersey’s first openly gay U.S. Senator if he wins.
Four other Republicans make up the second tier in the Senate race: perennial candidate Gregg Mele, the 2021 Libertarian nominee for governor; small business owner Michael Estrada, who won 1% of the vote in an independent State Assembly bid six years ago; Patrick James Merrill, and former presidential candidate Albert Harshaw.