Challenge Accepted: Pascrell Agrees To Debate Basaran

NEW JERSEY — If it's a debate Alp Basaran wants, it's a debate he'll get.

According to a report from northjersey.com, Rep. Bill Pascrell, the incumbent in the 9th Congressional District, has accepted the virtual debate challenge from Alp Basaran.

In a May 27 letter from Basaran, addressed to both Pascrell and Zinovia Spezakis, he requested a public debate to be held at a "date and time jointly agreed upon" by the three candidates.

No date has been determined for the debate as of yet, and there's been no word on if Spezakis plans to participate.

According to Basaran's website, he moved to New Jersey at age four and grew up undocumented. In the '90s, Basaran and his mother moved back to Turkey while awaiting their green cards while his father remained in New Jersey.
The family eventually received green cards, and moved to Fort Lee, where Basaran lives today.
Basaran is running on a progressive platform that includes healthcare for all, and environmental policy that looks to "transform the Green New Deal from a broad proposal to concrete policy."

Read his full list of policies here: https://alpbasaran.com/policies/

Spezakis, also the child of immigrants, is running on an environment-first platform. On her website, she states that "handling the Climate Crisis" requires a transition away from fossil fuels and the adoption of renewable energy."
Spezakis also has a Medicare for All healthcare policy.

Read Spezakis' full list of policies here: https://www.zinaforcongress.com/issues

Pascrell, the incumbent, is in his twelfth term as elected Congressman, first in New Jersey's 8th district, then the 9th after the district was reconfigured and renumbered.

Read his full list of policies here: https://pascrell.house.gov/issues/