MADISON – If someone unschooled in Jersey politics heard Curtis Bashaw speak for the first time, they may not take him for a Republican.

“I’m a gay married man who is pro-choice,” is one of the statements he made Tuesday afternoon during a forum at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The above assessment takes note of generalities and stereotypes, but a lot of today’s polarizing politics is about just that.

Bashaw, of course, is a Republican and he is challenging Democrat Andy Kim for the Senate seat once held by the convicted Bob Menendez. George Helmy is now serving in the Senate as a “caretaker.”

Some of Bashaw’s views may not seem to jibe with the GOP base these days, but he did win the Senate primary over an opponent – Christine Serrano Glassner – who was endorsed by Donald Trump.

Bashaw said that was a testament to New Jersey’s independence and also to his energized campaign. He says he’s put 72,000 miles on his car driving around the state since January.

Bashaw is from Cape May, which is something that shapes his campaign.

A hotel operator, Bashaw takes pride in refurbishing Congress Hall, which proclaims itself to be “America’s First Seaside Resort.”  He says people told him renovating the old place was a lost cause, but he persevered and made it work.

He sees a parallel to his Senate campaign. Given the fact it’s been more than 50 years since Republicans won a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey, some may see Bashaw’s campaign as a lost cause.

But he’s persevering to the tune of 72,000 miles and counting.

Bashaw’s main point is that he’s the “centrist” in the race and that Kim is the “extremist.”

It is true that Bashaw’s views on abortion are centrist, if not liberal.

He said he would support federal legislation to codify the principles of Roe v. Wade and when asked about limiting abortions to a certain time period, he said he would leave all that up to women and their doctors.

Bashaw also thinks he has the consensus view on immigration, noting that many Democrats think the country must do more to stop immigrants from just walking in. He says he visited the border earlier this year in Yuma, Az. and saw 62 people do just that.

Speaking about his personal life, Bashaw explained why he is a Republican. Left unsaid, but understood, was the fact that generally speaking, Democrats are more supportive of gay issues than Republicans.

Bashaw’s take was that one should not pigeon-hole people and more broadly, he said he fears the negative impact of Democratic policies on his finances more than he fears the prospect of Republicans entering his bedroom.

The FDU program offers various candidates a chance to speak. Kim was there earlier this month.

One of those attending Tuesday’s event was former Rep. Leonard Lance. A backer of Bashaw in the primary, Lance noted how he beat a Trump-backed candidate in June.

Trump’s presence, of course, can’t be discounted. He is at the top of the ticket.

Asked about how he is navigating that, Bashaw sought to separate the two.

“I have my own lane in this race,” he said.

“President Trump has his mission to win the presidency. And I have my mission to win the Senate seat.”