Running this past year as New Jersey’s Republican candidate for U.S. Senate was a great honor and privilege. And while our campaign ultimately was not quite successful, having the opportunity to hear and learn firsthand from New Jersey voters up and down our diverse state was an incredible and eye-opening experience.
From diners to grocery stores, voters talked with me about inflation and the price of food. From train stations to ferry terminals, residents expressed their frustration with NJ Transit and with the un-level playing field created by what was perceived as an unfair border policy. At front doors and in living rooms, at farmers markets, barbershops and street fairs, people talked about affordability, taxes and housing. And from businesses of all shapes and sizes, I heard about New Jersey’s burdensome regulations. And in all these places I heard loudly and clearly that the vast majority of voters want politicians of all parties to govern from the middle.
Most New Jerseyans do not want to tell others what to do or be told what to do. They want freedom, they want opportunity and they want security. They want practical solutions. They want things to get done. They want good jobs, and they want to be able to buy a home. I heard this in our cities, our suburbs and our rural communities.
These very different stories from thousands of very diverse New Jersey voters fundamentally contained the same underlying message: They are worried that their children and grandchildren will not be able to build a life here. This saddens them, because they don’t want their loved ones to leave. Yet, in spite of this, New Jerseyans are fiercely proud of where they are from and all that the state has to offer. They are not ready to give up on New Jersey. They love our beautiful beaches, our top-notch schools and our rich cultural centers. They love our location and diversity. And our food. But they desperately want — and need — change to be able to continue to live here.
Year after year, our state remains one of the most unaffordable places to live, and our fiscal problems keep getting worse. Almost all the voters I spoke to expressed concern about the future of New Jersey for the next generation. Will they be able to retire here? Will their children be able to own a home here?
The concept of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, is a smart one and shouldn’t be viewed as a partisan issue. In fact, I believe the state should set up its own DOGE to examine our taxpayer spending and regulations. As a businessman, I know that we can find real efficiencies and savings, which will lower our taxes and help our government operations run better. And improve our quality of life. I believe we need to ensure government is held accountable and working for our citizens.
Traveling to our state’s 21 counties and visiting hundreds of municipalities, driving 82,500 miles over 295 days and meeting thousands of voters, was a humbling and unforgettable learning experience. While I was not elected to the U.S. Senate, I’m honored that almost 1.8 million New Jerseyans entrusted me with their votes.
I’m proud to have been on the front lines of our democracy this past 10 months, and I will continue working and fighting for the state I love. I believe that by working together, we can make New Jersey a place where future generations can afford to live and prosper.
Curtis Bashaw was the Republican candidate for New Jersey’s seat in the United States Senate.
