Curtis Bashaw, a Republican who opposes Trump and contributes to Democratic causes, is vying for the Republican nomination in New Jersey to challenge Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
Hailing from Cape May, New Jersey, Bashaw, a real estate developer and hotelier, emerges as the primary contender against Christine Serrano Glassner, the pro-Trump Mayor of Mendham.
Described as a moderate Republican, Bashaw’s political background includes service in the administration of Governor Jim McGreevey, marked by scandal. He notably distanced himself from Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential bid, instead supporting Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.
In July 2020, Bashaw shared an article characterizing Trump as a “threat to democracy”:
A timely letter from a diverse group declaring that liberal democracy cannot survive without free expression. That the best path for change is persuasion, not coercion. And that robust discourse is essential. Freedom is messy but precious. @Harpers https://t.co/L8qqclvCKd
— Curtis Bashaw (@CurtisBashaw) July 8, 2020
According to an article in Harper’s Magazine, the rise of illiberal forces worldwide is aided by Donald Trump, posing a significant threat to democratic principles.
Bashaw’s political contributions include support for Christie’s 2024 presidential campaign, which notably opposed Trump. He also backed Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) 2014 campaign, among other Democratic candidates.
In a February memo, Glassner characterized Bashaw as a Democrat disguised as a Republican, highlighting his business ties with Chinese firms involved in American real estate acquisitions.
A particularly concerning instance occurred in 2017 when Bashaw collaborated with a Chinese state-owned construction company on a development project in Hudson Yards, New York City. This partner, China State Construction Engineering (CSCE), has ties to the People’s Liberation Army, prompting President Trump to blacklist the firm through an executive order. These details, sourced from various news reports, warrant scrutiny from New Jersey GOP County Committee members and Republican primary voters, who are disillusioned with candidates compromising with foreign interests.
Bashaw claims to have divested from the firm in 2019, a year before President Trump’s executive order banning American companies from holding shares in Chinese firms.
Glassner asserted on Breitbart News Saturday that Menendez’s corruption and the weakness of Democratic candidates present an opportunity for Republicans to win the New Jersey Senate seat.
