The two major party candidates for the United States Senate will engage in three debates this year as they seek the seat held for nearly nineteen years by Bob Menendez.
Republican Curtis Bashaw and Democrat Andy Kim will face off for the first time on Sunday, October 6 at 8 PM in a debate sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and the Rebovich Institute of New Jersey Politics at Rider University. This debate will be a 90-minute exchange between the two nominees.
The following week, the two candidates will meet for a NJ Spotlight News at NJ PBS debate on Tuesday, October 15 at 8 PM.
The final debate between Bashaw and Kim will take place on Tuesday, October 22 at 8 PM in a forum sponsored by News 12 New Jersey.
None of the media organizations invited Menendez, who was convicted last month on sixteen counts of bribery, conspiracy, and illegally representing a foreign government. Menendez remains on the ballot as an independent and has not commented on his future political plans. His resignation from the Senate is effective August 20.
Four other independent candidates – Kenneth Kaplan (Libertarian), Christina Khalil (Green Party), Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party), and Patricia Mooneyham – were not extended invitations.