Alp Basaran Challenges Bill Pascrell and Zina Spezakis to a Virtual Debate

May 27, 2020

Alpaslan “Alp” Basaran, a formerly undocumented American Muslim running for Congress in the 9th District of New Jersey, challenged Bill Pascrell, the incumbent Democratic Congressperson, and Zina Spezakis to a virtual debate in an open letter. Basaran was endorsed by Blake Michael, another progressive candidate for Congress who dropped out in favor of Basaran in order to avoid splitting the progressive vote in the race.

The upcoming primary election on July 7, 2020 will be held during a historic pandemic that has quickly pushed our healthcare system, educational system, and economy to the brink of collapse. The voters deserve to hear from all candidates regarding their views on crucial issues presently affecting the district and the country. “We have a duty to honor our fundamental democratic traditions even in the worst of times,” said Basaran. “We have a duty to debate each other.”

Basaran believes that the country will weather this storm and this election cycle. “Near the end of the War of 1812, the British marched into Washington D.C. and burned the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and nearly every other public building to the ground. Nonetheless, we still held Congressional elections a few months later. We lived by our democratic ideals then, we must live by them now,” said Basaran.