TRENTON, NJ – In a recent Fairleigh Dickinson poll regarding who will be the next governor of New Jersey in 2025, 14% of Republicans recognized fictional candidates.
They also recognized 2021 GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli, NJ 101.5 host Bill Spadea and New Jersey Republican Senator Michael Testa.
The poll showed that among real candidates, Ciattarelli has the advantage of having been a recent nominee: 76 percent of Republicans say that they recognize him, and 47 percent have a favorable view of him. Close behind him, though, are talk show host Spadea and State Senator Mike Testa.
“Spadea has 37 percent name recognition among Republicans,” the poll stated.
The bad news is, 14 percent of Republicans say that they recognize the fictional candidates.
It’s not just a Republican problem.
12% of Democrats recognized two fictional candidates inserted into the poll.
“These fictional candidates had about 12 percent name recognition, which tells us that about 12 percent of New Jersey residents will claim to recognize – and sometimes offer opinions about – any name put to them,” the poll stated.