Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill holds an eight-point lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Among likely voters, Sherrill receives 49% support compared with 41% for Ciattarelli. Libertarian Vic Kaplan and Socialist Worker candidate Joanne Kuniansky each draw 1%, while 6% remain undecided or declined to answer.
In a head-to-head matchup, Sherrill’s margin widens slightly, 51% to 42%.
“Seven weeks out, the race leans Sherrill’s way as Ciattarelli lags on three key character issues: honesty, empathy, and leadership,” said Tim Malloy, Quinnipiac University polling analyst.
Broken down by gender, the poll found that women favor Sherrill 55-35, while men prefer Ciattarelli 48-44.
Asked about specific qualities, 52% of respondents said Sherrill has strong leadership skills, compared with 44% for Ciattarelli. Sherrill also leads on honesty (49% to 38%) and caring about “people like me” (50% to 44%).
The state’s high tax rate dominated as the most important issue, with 30% of respondents listing that as their number one issue.
On handling property taxes, voters give Ciattarelli a narrow edge, 46% to 40%. Sherrill holds a slight advantage on electricity costs, 42% to 40%.
In 2021, Ciattarelli lost a closer than expected race to the term-limited Governor Phil Murphy, losing by just 3.2%, or 84,286 votes. Prior to election day in 2021, most polls had Ciattarelli losing by an average of eight points.
Since the 1980s, New Jersey has elected a governor from the opposite party of the president every gubernatorial election except for Murphy’s narrow win in 2021.
On the flip side, no party in New Jersey has won three consecutive gubernatorial elections since Democrats won four straight in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
The poll surveyed 1,238 likely voters between Sept. 11-15 and has a margin of error of ±3.9 percentage points.
Sherrill is most probably going to win.
Every poll has her up and don’t forget
Jack lost already 4 years ago.
Jack was pretty close, and the only reason he lost was people like you and these fake polls and so called Askonim that claimed Murphy was way ahead.
Jack Ciattarelli has a chance if we vote.
Vote what’s best for us and our morals, not based on what some persons fortune cookie claims. Don’t forget how we got taken for a ride supporting No chance Gottheimer.
@zev Couldn’t agree more!! We live in a generation where no one thinks for themselves anymore! Hishtadlus isn’t to be a mathematician and figure out whos doing better in polls and what the chances are if you vote for the right guy etc. your hishtadlus is to go out and vote for who you think is gonna do the best job! that being said VOTE JACK and stop listening to all the fake signatures you see…
8 points insurmountable by anyone ever in history! Jack should concede today. Save the tax payers of NJ millions in election worker fees. People would not have to skip work and seder. It’s over. The fat lady has sung!
Very, very funny Schmendrik .
Polls are corrupt.
If these polls are as far off as the Trump-Harris match of last year…
All I’m saying is, don’t trust polls.
Everyone needs to just get out and vote for Jack! Look at where we are after Murphy and the Democrats have ruled in Trenton for too long. It’s a civic duty, no excuses, every vote does count, don’t take this for granted, and don’t trust polls.