Today is day two of the U.S. government shutdown. Senators have left town until Friday to observe Yom Kippur, an almost certain sign that the shutdown will not end today.
More than two-thirds of New Jersey voters are unhappy with the current state of the economy and 39% believe their family's financial situation is worse than it was last year, according to a poll released Friday by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.
Most New Jersey voters, 58% of those polled, feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, while a third think it is on the right track. The results are similar to those of a poll conducted last year, but the partisan sentiment has flipped.
Under former President Joe Biden, the Republican disapproval drove the findings, with 91% saying the country was going down the wrong path. With President Donald Trump at the helm this year, 89% of Democrats say the country is off course.
About 48% of voters said the state is headed in the wrong direction, the same rate as last year's poll. The rate of voters who said the state is on the right track dipped from 38% last September to 30% this year.
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"We know cost of living is a key issue for New Jersey voters so one thing that could account for that change is the rise in utility costs," Alyssa Maurice, assistant director and head of research for the Hughes Center, said in a statement.
A Stockton poll released in June found that 38% of residents saw their electric bills increase drastically in the past year. Democrats blame the utility companies for the rise, while Republicans pointed the finger at state officials.
Gov. Phil Murphy's approval ratings were better than Trump's, with voters split at 42%. Trump's approval is underwater in the state, with 55% disapproving of the way he's running the country and 38% approving.
About a third of voters have a good impression of Jack Ciattarelli, who is running for governor as a Republican, while 38% have an unfavorable view. Voters are nearly split on Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill, with 34% saying they view her favorably and 35% saying they have an unfavorable view.
Send us your Atlantic City mayoral debate questions
The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and The Press of Atlantic City will co-sponsor a debate between the Atlantic City mayoral candidates.
For both candidates, about a fourth of voters said they are not familiar enough to have an opinion.
"New Jersey is one of few states to hold its gubernatorial election in odd years that don't align with federal races, so voters are paying less attention and turnout tends to be much lower," Maurice said. "There's still an upcoming debate that could get the candidates on more voters' radar."
The second debate between Sherrill and Ciattarelli is scheduled for Wednesday in New Brunswick. The first debate, Sept. 21, focused on affordability issues.
About 25% of voters said taxes were the most important issue to them in the upcoming election, while 12% said cost of living and 9% said the economy were the biggest problems. Education and immigration tied at 6%.
"Property taxes are an evergreen issue in New Jersey," Maurice said
A Stockton poll released in April asked voters to weigh in on policies to address housing affordability, and increasing property tax relief garnered the most support at 62%, the only policy with bipartisan support.
A plurality of 42% think society's increased use of artificial intelligence will make their life worse, 27% said it will improve their life and 15% said they don't think it will impact them.
The majority of voters, 71% who were polled, said political violence in this country is a big problem after prominent figures on both sides of the aisle have been targeted this year, such as conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.
Send us your 2nd Legislative District Assembly debate questions
The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and The Press of Atlantic City will co-sponsor a debate Oct. 21 between the candidates for Assembly in the 2nd Legislative District.
A plurality of 43% of voters polled said they are not at all confident in the federal government to provide accurate public health guidance.
The poll of 705 registered voters in New Jersey was conducted Sept. 25-30 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.
Contact John O'Connor:
609-272-7247
X @acpressoconnor
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