The LGBTQ rights group Garden State Equality Action Fund is supporting Democrats for every federal election in New Jersey this year – even in the race for U.S. Senate, where Republican Curtis Bashaw is vying to become the state’s first-ever openly gay member of Congress.
Bashaw, a hotel developer, lives in Cape May County with his husband Will and is – naturally – a supporter of gay rights. But Jeannine Frisby LaRue, the chair of the Garden State Equality Action Fund, said that Bashaw’s identity does not automatically make him a worthy candidate for LGBTQ voters, and that she believes Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) remains the better choice for Senate.
“While Curtis Bashaw’s potential election to the U.S. Senate would indeed be historic, after careful review of his responses to our questionnaire, it is clear that his positions do not meet our criteria for being a true pro-equality candidate,” LaRue said. “Representation alone cannot outweigh the need for leaders who prioritize the safety and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, especially our youth. Curtis Bashaw’s responses fell short of the commitment we require from those seeking our endorsement.”
Bashaw’s campaign decried the endorsement, saying it meant that Garden State Equality had bowed down to “partisan politics” rather than focusing on who would actually improve New Jersey’s LGBTQ representation.
“It’s absurd,” Bashaw spokesperson Jeanette Hoffman said. “There’s a historic opportunity to elect the first openly gay U.S. Senator in New Jersey history, and Garden State Equality made their endorsement based on partisan politics.”
Also earning the group’s endorsement are Vice President Kamala Harris, six incumbent Democratic representatives, and six Democratic House nominees: Joe Salerno in the 2nd district, Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran) in the 3rd, Matt Jenkins in the 4th, Sue Altman in the 7th, State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) in the 9th, and Newark Council President LaMonica McIver in the 10th.
Garden State Equality typically endorses Democrats, so none of those endorsements are hugely surprising. As Jenkins knows, though, just being a Democrat is not always enough to earn the group’s support; back in Jenkins’ first campaign against Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) in 2022, Garden State Equality chose instead to endorse Pam Daniels, an openly transgender independent candidate who ultimately got 0.2% of the vote.
In the 2023 elections, the Action Fund endorsed a handful of Republicans – including Assemblyman Don Guardian (R-Atlantic City), one of the only openly gay GOP state legislators anywhere in the country.
This story was updated at 3:33 p.m. with comment from Bashaw’s campaign.